Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the time and arrangements for the sitting tomorrow, Tuesday, 30 October 2012, be as follows:

(1) The House, at its rising, adjourn until tomorrow at 11 a.m.;

(2) during the period from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. any division on a question called for in the House, other than on a motion moved by a Minister during this period, shall stand deferred until the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance;

(3) during the period from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. if any member draws the attention of the Speaker to the state of the House, the Speaker shall announce that she will count the House at the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance, if the Member then so desires; and

(4) any variation to this arrangement to be made only by a motion moved by a Minister.

Speaking briefly to the resolution, it has the support of both sides of the chamber. It is just in order to improve the productivity of the chamber and to avoid potential late-night sittings. This is the penultimate sitting week of the House of Representatives. I am sure that people are pretty keen to leave here on Thursday afternoon at 5 pm. We are attempting to do that in a cooperative manner. We will have discussions with the opposition about what bills are listed tomorrow during this period. But in any case if they are bills that require votes to be held we will ensure, by adjourning the debate, that votes are not held until later tomorrow afternoon. I thank the opposition for their cooperation.

Question agreed to.

See this speech in context