Parliamentary Procedure

Sessional Orders

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:26): I move:

That standing orders be and remain so far suspended as to enable me to move a motion for the adoption of sessional orders relating to the time of meeting of the house and for the consideration of private members' business.

The SPEAKER: I have counted the house, and there being present an absolute majority of the whole number of members of the house, I accept the motion. Is the motion seconded?

Honourable members: Yes.

The SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Mr KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:26): The manager of government business approached the opposition about the situation the government had found itself in, where they were hoping to have a cabinet meeting on Thursday where they would ask the opposition to acquiesce to having sessional orders changed to have private members' business moved to Wednesday and would the opposition consider that. The opposition did consider it.

In our discussions, the leader of government business informed me that he would not make a change without the consent of the opposition. The opposition has not given its consent, yet the government are now proceeding with this. They have the numbers to do so, and of course it is their right to do so, but when you have a conversation with the opposition and you tell us that you will not make this change without our consent and you want it done in a bipartisan way, I think it is a very poor start for the government and especially the minister.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The manager of opposition business can make claims if he likes. The fact is that the government presented suggestions to the opposition about alternative options of how to move the 10.30 start from Thursday to Wednesday, and invited them to express any concerns. They chose not to do so. We invited them to express whether they would prefer all the private members' bills and motions to be moved from Thursday to Wednesday or to make an alternative suggestion. They chose not to comment. The government is moving ahead with the sessional orders as presented.

The house divided on the motion:

Ayes 25

Noes 18

Majority 7

Motion thus carried.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:35): Pursuant to order, I move:

That for the remainder of the session, sessional orders be adopted so as to provide for the time of meeting of the house and for the consideration of private members' business as detailed in the draft sessional orders circulated to members.

The sessional orders will effectively change around business on Thursday mornings, as has been the case in the standing orders, to be on Wednesday mornings with private members' bills followed by private members' motions for 2½ hours. Thursday mornings will be committee business followed by government business. Wednesday mornings, the house will start at 10.30. Thursday mornings, the house will start at 11.00. The purpose is, as identified by the manager of opposition business, to enable cabinet to have slightly longer, half an hour, to finish its meeting on Thursday morning.

Motion carried.