Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, just as was the case last time when we had an unusual sitting, I'll move the motion in full so that everyone's apprised of all the terms. I will move a motion to suspend standing orders and advise the House that, pursuant to standing order 47(c)(ii), the Manager of Opposition Business and I have agreed that an absolute majority is not required. I thereby move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to business for today:

(1) the Federation Chamber not to meet today;

(2) immediately following the resolution of this motion the Prime Minister to make a ministerial statement, with the Leader of the Opposition to respond;

(3) subsequent business for this sitting to be restricted to bills relating to the further economic response to the coronavirus crisis, Question Time, and any other business agreed between a Minister and the Manager of Opposition Business;

(4) presentation and consideration of bills relating to the further economic response to the coronavirus crisis to be given priority over all other business until 2pm;

(5) the Speaker to report any Messages from the Governor-General required by standing order 180(b), a Minister to present the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Bill, the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures No. 2) Bill, Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2019-2020 and Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2019-2020 together and the first reading of each bill to be given;

(6) the minister to move one motion that the bills be read a second time, and make a second reading speech;

(7) at the conclusion of the second reading speech a cognate debate to ensue until 2pm;

(8) immediately after Question Time and the presentation of any documents by the Speaker, the immediate question, or questions, necessary to complete the second reading of the bills to be put;

(9) if the second reading of the bills is agreed to and any Messages from the Governor-General announced, the bills then to be taken as a whole during consideration in detail, if required, for one hour, with any Government amendments to the bills that have been circulated to be treated as if they have been moved together, any Opposition amendments which have been circulated to be treated as if they had been moved together, and any amendments circulated by non-aligned Members to be treated as if they had been moved together by the Member proposing them, with:

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

(b) one question then to be put on any amendments which have been circulated by Opposition Members;

(c) single questions then to be put on amendments circulated by each non-aligned Member; and

(d) any further questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of the bills to be put without delay;

(10) if consideration in detail is not required, the question on the third reading of the bills to be put immediately after the second readings of the bills and the announcement of any Messages from the Governor-General;

(11) following the third readings of the bills, any other business agreed by a Minister and the Manager of Opposition Business to ensue, the Speaker then to suspend the House until the ringing of the bells;

(12) when the sitting resumes any further business relating to the bills and any other business agreed by a Minister and the Manager of Opposition Business to ensue, and the Speaker then to adjourn the House until a date and hour to be fixed by the Speaker; and

(13) any variation to this arrangement to be made only by a motion moved by a Minister with leave granted by the Manager of Opposition Business.

I personally thank the Manager of Opposition Business for his cooperation in devising that motion.

See this speech in context