Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to proceedings on an item of private Members' business, Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022:

(1) the order of the day for resumption of debate on the second reading of the bill being called on immediately;

(2) debate to continue for no longer than two hours, with debate then being adjourned, the bill made an order of the day for the next sitting and referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration;

(3) the second reading of the bill having priority over government business in the Federation Chamber, with the exception of the grievance debate, until no further Members rise to speak;

(4) the bill then being returned to the House for consideration of the remaining stages immediately, or otherwise as ordered; and

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

In moving this motion, I take this opportunity to provide the House with some guidance on the week ahead and where I think sittings are likely to be. I have provided most of this information to both the Manager of Opposition Business and to the crossbench. But just to be able to provide it generally, first of all, if this motion is carried, which I certainly hope it is, we will then go immediately into debate on the private member's bill, the Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022. That is designated for two hours of debate. If we run out of speakers in those two hours, we will not go to a vote. The private member's bill will be referred to the Federation Chamber, and that will basically take up government business time for the Federation Chamber for the rest of the week.

There is a strong view that has been held in this place for a long time that for conscience votes every member who wants to speak should have the opportunity to do so. We may well get through the speakers this week in the Federation Chamber. If we do, it will come down here for a vote. But if we require more time when we come back for the next sitting fortnight, it will continue to be listed until we've got through all the speakers. If we run short on speakers today and we don't fill the two hours, as may occur, I would suggest then—although indulgence is completely within the realm of the Speaker—that further statements on indulgence following the death of Archie Roach might be an appropriate use of the chamber before we return to the address in reply where there are some further first speeches.

Tomorrow morning there are two bills we are trying to get across to the Senate fairly quickly that at the moment there are almost no speakers on and that's obviously because the Senate is waiting for business to come from the chamber. I'm hoping to get both the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Bill 2022 and the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) Bill 2022 across before question time. I suspect the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Bill 2022 will be contentious but the there is a time constraint on us for this which—

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