Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Chair of the Procedure Committee, I present the first report of 2018—Hours of meeting and routine of businessand I move:

That the report be adopted.

Senators would recall that a number of changes to the hours of meeting and routine of business for the Senate were adopted as temporary orders at the end of last year. These changes provided for five-minute speeches on the Wednesday adjournment, so that more speakers can speak; removed the option for 20-minutes speeches on the Tuesday adjournment; provided for a midday start to sittings on Tuesday; and it moved private senators' bills from Thursday to Monday morning. The Procedure Committee undertook to review the changes before the end of June this year. As noted in this brief report, the committee has now reviewed the amendments to standing orders 54, 55, 57 and 59 made by the temporary order and considers that they are working well and recommends that those standing orders now be amended in the terms of the temporary order. The motion I have moved would adopt the recommendations. I commend the motion to the Senate.

Question agreed to.