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

I ask leave of the House to move a motion relating to the adjournment of the House for the sitting.

Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With great pleasure.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to leave being granted? There being no objection, leave is granted.

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

I thank the Leader of the National Party for his unusual enthusiastic support for my moving of a motion. I move:

That standing order 31 (automatic adjournment of the House) be suspended for this sitting and that, after the Leader of the Opposition completes his reply to the Budget speech, the House automatically stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Monday, 27 May 2013 unless the Speaker or, in the event of the Speaker being unavailable, the Deputy Speaker, fixes an alternative day or hour of meeting.

I had this discussion with the Manager of Opposition Business who, of course, has been excluded at the moment from the proceedings before the House. It is the government's intention that, if we can carry expeditiously the aged care legislation, we can then suspend for the period before the Leader of the Opposition's address to the parliament this evening. I will have discussions with the Deputy Manager of Opposition Business to ensure that can occur. There are only opposition speakers remaining on the list for that legislation. My understanding is that there will need to be a number of divisions on that. So it is in your hands in terms of what time we suspend. I would not be averse to suspending either a little bit earlier or a little bit later, depending upon what time we can carry those bills. But perhaps we might, by agreement as well, have a truncated MPI debate so that can occur. I thank the House.

Question agreed to.