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

by leave—I move:

That:

(1) the House invite the Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, to attend and address the House on Monday, 20 June 2011, at 2.30 p.m.;

(2) unless otherwise ordered, at the sitting of the House on Monday, 20 June 2011:

(a) the sitting commence at approximately 2.30 p.m. when the proceedings shall be welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and an address by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, after which the sitting of the House automatically shall be suspended until the ringing of the bells and that so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the order of business for the remainder of the sitting prior to 8 p.m. being as follows:

(i) documents;

(ii) Ministerial Statements;

(iii) notices and orders of the day, government business; and

(b) the provisions of standing order 257(c) shall apply to the area of Members' seats as well as the galleries;

(3) a message be sent to the Senate inviting Senators to attend the House as guests for the welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and address by the Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand;

(4) unless otherwise ordered, the House, at its rising, adjourn until Tuesday, 21 June 2011 at 12 noon and at this sitting of the House:

(a) government business have priority from 12 noon until 2 p.m.;

(b) during the period from 12 noon until 2 p.m. any division on a question called for in the House, other than on a motion moved by a Minister, shall stand deferred until the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance; and

(c) during the period from 12 noon until 2 p.m. if any Member draws the attention of the Speaker to the state of the House, the Speaker shall announce that the House shall be counted at the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance, if the Member then so desires; and

(5) any variation to this arrangement be made only by an action by the Speaker or by a motion moved by a Minister.

This motion invites the Rt Hon. John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand, to address a meeting of the House on Monday, 20 June 2011. The House will sit with the ringing of the bells with proceedings to commence at approximately 2.30 pm. Following welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Key will address the parliament. As with the address by the President of Indonesia in March last year, senators will be invited to attend and there will be similar parliamentary arrangements in place including no question time in the House that day. The House will then suspend until the ringing of the bells which we anticipate will be between 4 pm and 5 pm, depending upon the official arrangements with Prime Minister Key.

Prime Minister Key will be engaged in a number of meetings in the morning with the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and with senior ministers. There will also be a formal ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of Parliament House. For the information of members there will be a formal luncheon in the Great Hall from 12.50 pm on Monday to which, of course, all members and senators will be invited.

Prime Minister Key will become the first New Zealand Prime Minister to address the Australian parliament. Prime Minister Gillard became the first Australian Prime Minister to address the New Zealand parliament earlier this year. Australia's relations with New Zealand are the closest and most comprehensive we have with any country. The relationship is built on a firm foundation of strong government, business and people-to-people links and shared values and history. Prime Minister Key's visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen and energise the trans-Tasman relationship. I indicate to the House, Mr Speaker, that we consulted with the opposition about these arrangements, and I thank the opposition for their support.

Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition join with the government in this announcement. We will welcome the visit by the New Zealand Prime Minister. The relationship, the friendship and the camaraderie between Australians and New Zealanders are well known right around the world, and it will be great occasion to have the Prime Minister of New Zealand addressing the parliament.

Question agreed to.