Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That, in respect of the proceedings on the Omnibus Repeal Day (Autumn 2014) Bill 2014, the Amending Acts 1901 to 1969 Repeal Bill 2014, and the Statute Law Revision (No. 1) Bill 2014, so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring:

(1) the resumption of debate on the second readings of the bills being called on together;

(2) at the conclusion of the second reading debate or at 5.30 pm on Wednesday, 26 March 2014, whichever is the earlier, a Minister being called to sum up the second reading debate, then without delay:

(a) any necessary questions being put on any amendments moved to motions for the second readings by non-Government Members; and

(b) one question being put on the second readings of the bills together;

(3) the consideration in detail stages, if required, on all the bills being taken together for a period not exceeding 60 minutes at which time any Government amendments that have been circulated in respect of any of the bills shall be treated as if they have been moved together with:

(a) one question being put on all the Government amendments;

(b) one question being put on any amendments which have been moved by non-Government Members; and

(c) any further questions necessary to complete the detail stage being put;

(4) at the conclusion of the detail stage, one question being put on the remaining stages of all the bills together; and

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

I will explain what the government is proposing for today. Members will remember that last week, when the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister introduced these bills as part of repeal day, a full week's notice was given to the opposition in order for them to be able to carry out their normal procedural matters within their own party to determine their position on these repeal bills and the repeal of regulations—which of course is the courtesy that we extend to the opposition, as they did to us when they were in government.

Today is that day: it is repeal day. As the government indicated, we intend to pass these bills by the end of the day. At 5.30 we will have a second reading vote on this matter, and I hope the opposition will support the repeal of these bills and regulations. If a consideration in detail stage is required, an hour has been put aside for that to occur, and then the final votes will be taken on any amendments that might be moved by the opposition and then on the totality of these bills at about 6.30 to seven this evening.

I am looking forward to repeal day. I think will be a great success. It is a bit like a school carnival, with these bills being debated today. We are very excited on this side of the House at the prospect of sweeping away many of these regulations and much of the red tape that is strangling business and communities, and repealing bills that are not necessary. The opposition, when they were in government, regarded their successes as the number of bills and regulations that they introduced. We have the opposite view. We genuinely believe in small government. Today's repeal day, of course, is a manifestation of that.

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