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

by leave—I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent:

(1) the time and order of business for Tuesday, 26 June 2012 being as follows:

(a) the House shall meet at 12 noon;

(b) during the period from 12 noon until 2 pm any division on a question called for in the House, other than on a motion moved by a minister during this period, 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 pm if any member draws the attention of the Speaker to the state of the House, the Speaker shall announce that he will count the House at the conclusion of the discussion of a matter of public importance, if the member then so desires; and

(2) any variation to this arrangement to be made only by a motion moved by a minister. There is a range of legislation which needs to be passed either today or tomorrow to fit in with a motion—which has already been carried by the Senate—that the Senate will deal with those bills tomorrow evening. This will enable discussion to achieve the objective of the member for Groom, which I think has a lot of support in this House, that we conclude at 5 pm on Thursday. At this stage it is too early to determine whether that will occur, but with the cooperation and goodwill of those opposite—and maybe a few less suspensions of standing orders—we will be able to achieve that objective.

Question agreed to.