Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence—Madam Speaker, members might like to know the status of the Senate at the moment. They are debating legislation which will have to return to the House of Representatives. My strong advice to the Senate is that we know the position of the Labor Party, the Greens and the government on these issues and now the crossbenchers—

Mr Feeney interjecting—

You don't want to hear? Do you want to go home?

Opposition members interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I have given the call to the Leader of the House. There will be silence.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know the positions of the government and the opposition on these bills and therefore I would urge senators not to debate these matters well into tomorrow or the next day but simply to make their points and we will then have those bills returned to the House. We will sit tonight. We hope that that will be the final sitting for the year. I would much prefer members to be able to go home on the first planes in the morning and I am sure most members would agree. The Senate are sitting and we know what they are doing. I believe we will have a dinner break—I suggest at probably about half-past six until about nine o'clock and then return, to give members the chance to go out of the House and have dinner. But I will keep the House updated. I am obviously keeping the Manager of Opposition Business in the House updated and we are liaising on what we think might be best. I cannot rule out that the Senate will sit all night and therefore we might need to return here at 9 am tomorrow. If that becomes apparent, I do not intend to sit the House all night fruitlessly but, instead, allow us to go home at a reasonable hour and then come back tomorrow. That is as much information as I have.

An opposition member interjecting—

You don't want to know, either? Thank you very much for your indulgence, Madam Speaker. I will continue to update the House as more information comes to light.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the House for that update.