Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

We know the positions of the government and the opposition on these bills and therefore I would urge senators not to debate these matters well into tomorrow or the next day but simply to make their points and we will then have those bills returned to the House. We will sit tonight. We hope that that will be the final sitting for the year. I would much prefer members to be able to go home on the first planes in the morning and I am sure most members would agree. The Senate are sitting and we know what they are doing. I believe we will have a dinner break—I suggest at probably about half-past six until about nine o'clock and then return, to give members the chance to go out of the House and have dinner. But I will keep the House updated. I am obviously keeping the Manager of Opposition Business in the House updated and we are liaising on what we think might be best. I cannot rule out that the Senate will sit all night and therefore we might need to return here at 9 am tomorrow. If that becomes apparent, I do not intend to sit the House all night fruitlessly but, instead, allow us to go home at a reasonable hour and then come back tomorrow. That is as much information as I have.

An opposition member interjecting—

You don't want to know, either? Thank you very much for your indulgence, Madam Speaker. I will continue to update the House as more information comes to light.

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