Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That for Wednesday, 5 February 2025:

(1) standing order 33 (limit on business after normal time of adjournment) be suspended;

(2) so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to business:

(a) in the House, notwithstanding standing order 31, at 8pm the adjournment debate being interrupted and government business having priority until:

(i) business concludes, if earlier than 10pm;

(ii) 10 pm; or

(iii) a later time specified by a Minister prior to 10 pm;

at which point, the debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until Thursday, 6 February at 9 am;

(b) in the Federation Chamber, government business being given priority until the Federation Chamber adjourns at approximately 9.30 pm; and

(3) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.

For the information of members who may not have memorised today's Notice Paper, the effect of this is to allow for a later sitting this evening. The usual 6.30 rule will still apply in terms of no divisions or quorum calls after 6.30. Those people who were scheduled to speak on the adjournment will still be able to do so. We have some legislation, particularly in the Federation Chamber, which deals with crimes which are happening in real-time. Given that we are very close to the end of the speaking list, if we have a chance to get an agreement with the parliament to be able to deal with that more quickly, I think it's well and truly in the national interest for us to do so. This will give us the flexibility to do that. Obviously, if there are amendments, divisions that are called or anything like that, they would be dealt with by the House tomorrow morning.

Question agreed to.