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

by leave—I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the order of business for today in the House and the Federation Chamber being as follows:

(1) In the House:

(a) Presentation of petitions and Private Members' Business as determined by the Selection Committee, to be interrupted at approximately 11am;

(b) The Prime Minister to move a motion relating to the Martin Place siege and the Leader of the Opposition to reply for an equal period of time;

(c) At the adjournment of debate on the motion, Private Members' Business to be resumed and to continue until concluded;

(d) The provisions of standing orders 55(b) and 133(a) in relation to deferred quorums and divisions to apply until the conclusion of Private Members' Business;

(e) Any divisions or quorums called for between 4.15pm and 5.45pm to be deferred until 5.45pm;

(f) The order of business for the remainder of the sitting to be as provided for in the standing orders;

(2) In the Federation Chamber:

(a) Members' three minute constituency statements;

(b) The meeting to be suspended at approximately 11.00am for the duration of the debate on the Prime Minister's motion in the House;

(c) On resumption, Private Members' Business in the order determined by the Selection Committee, until 1.30pm;

(d) At 4pm, 90 second statements and government business as provided for, until 5.45pm;

(e) At 5.45pm, Private Members' Business to be resumed and to continue until concluded;

(f) The order of business for the remainder of the sitting to be as provided for in the standing orders;

(3) Any variation to this arrangement to be made only by a motion moved by a Minister.

I will speak to the motion very briefly. It enables the Prime Minister at 11 am to make a statement to the House, followed by the Leader of the Opposition, about the Martin Place siege that occurred in Sydney. Many members of the families of those who were involved in the siege or, indeed, were victims of the siege are here today. Later in the day the motion allows the House to have no divisions or quorums from 4.15 to 5.45 so that members might, if they wish, go to the War Memorial for the opening of parliament and the particular service that they have on this day. The Manager of Opposition Business and I have been in discussions about both of these matters and they are agreed between the government and the opposition.

Question agreed to.