Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I have a question for you on a procedural matter.

Peter Slipper (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, I will listen to what the member has to say.

Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I assure the House there are no politics in this. I just noticed a procedural matter. You will notice the Road Safety Remuneration Bill 2011 and the Road Safety Remuneration (Consequential Amendments and Related Provisions) Bill 2011 are listed as the second item of business for today. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications is finalising its report today and is due to table it tomorrow. Can we be debating those bills before the report of the committee has been tabled? You would think it would be wrong to go on with the debate without the committee's report being tabled, and obviously members of the committee would be constrained from speaking today because the report has not been tabled. I wonder if you might take that up with the clerks, the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business.

Peter Slipper (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My understanding is that, if a bill is referred to a committee, the consideration in detail stage cannot commence until the report is tabled, but I will reflect further on what the member has said and will come back to the House with a more definitive statement shortly.