Parliamentary Procedure

Standing and Sessional Orders Suspension

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (16:49): I move:

That standing and sessional orders be and remain so far suspended as to enable Private Members Business, Other Motions, Notices of Motion Nos 3 and 5, set down on the Notice Paper for Wednesday 14 November, to take precedence over Government Business forthwith.

In doing so, I just identify that we were looking at No. 4 as well but that circumstances have occurred that meant that No. 4 would be preferred by its mover on the next 16 Wednesday, as originally expected.

The SPEAKER: As an absolute majority is not present, please ring the bells.

An absolute majority of the whole number of members being present:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (16:51): It is clear the government does not have present the majority of the house to suspend standing orders and has relied on the opposition to provide them with the requisite numbers.

An honourable member: We did.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You did? It is also clear that the government is not prepared to debate legislation and instead is bringing on private members' business because they have run out of things to do and say. It is also clear that, while bringing on private members' business, the government is giving private members' business preference over government business, even though they cannot even rouse a majority of themselves—so much for the hardworking parliament we were promised by the Premier.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (16:52): I thank the opposition for their support for the motion—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —and I am very pleased that the hardworking parliament has passed more legislation through this House of Assembly in the year of the election than any other election year in memory, through long, long hard work particularly.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: I look forward to the statistical documentation in relation to the number of government members who have spoken on bills compared with opposition members, as compared with the last parliament. It is a very exciting statistic indeed.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: It is a very hardworking government and a very hardworking upper house. We have a lot of sitting weeks and we have a lot to talk about. There are some very specific and important issues that members were hoping to talk about on Wednesday in their private members' motions. Alas, due to the enthusiasm of the chamber for the various members' motions that were spoken about on Wednesday—and I think the member for Light's motion was one of the two that took up the vast majority of the time, along with one other from the member for Narungga—we have these motions available.

We thought we would go through the next three. As I have identified to the house, one of those motions was from the member for Frome, and he would prefer to debate it next sitting Wednesday, rather than this afternoon. That is fine. These were just the next three off the blocks yesterday, had we had the time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: They were the next three that would have been on the blocks yesterday had we had the time, as I just said—minus one, which the member has indicated they would rather do on Wednesday next week. I look forward to these motions being presented in the house over the next hour or so.

Motion carried.