Land Tax (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Standing Orders Suspension

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (15:46): I move:

That standing orders be and remain so far suspended to enable the adjournment of the house to extend beyond 7pm.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have counted the house and, as an absolute majority of members is not present, ring the bells.

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

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:50): Thank you, sir. The opposition has not been informed by the government why they are seeking this suspension. After the election, the Manager of Government Business made arrangements with the opposition to inform us in advance of sitting times and sitting dates and of these procedural matters. As far as I know, the opposition has not been informed.

Mr Pederick: It's on the green.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is on the green, okay. Well, usually this is done by agreement. We are not opposing—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We will not be opposing this measure, sir, but I just want to point out to the—

The Hon. D.C. van Holst Pellekaan: You want to point out something, you just haven't figured out what it is yet.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister for Energy and Minerals, you will come to order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir. Again, regardless of it being on the green, which has brought great merriment to the government, usually these things are done with the agreement of the opposition. It has not been done on this occasion. It is unfortunate, because the opposition is not opposing this measure, but the green is not an advance notice for members to make arrangements in their constituencies and other areas, and it is, quite frankly, unprecedented. The government should inform the opposition 24 hours in advance.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Thank you, member for West Torrens, for that contribution.

Motion carried.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I move:

That sitting of the house be extended beyond 6pm.

Motion carried.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I move:

That the time allotted for the remainder of the committee stage on the Land Tax (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill be 30 minutes and that the time allotted to the third reading be five minutes.

The CHAIR: It has been moved; is that seconded?

Honourable members: Yes, sir.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is no debate on that, member for West Torrens. I am going to put the question. All those in favour say aye; those against say no. The ayes have; it is carried.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I now move—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Sorry?

Mr Brown: A division was called.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I did not hear that. My apologies, I did not hear that.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! It seems that nobody heard it, but I am happy to accept it. I was surprised that I did not hear that a division was called for. If somebody did, I am—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, member for Lee! Take a seat, please, Attorney. I am going to re-put the question. I did not hear a division called for but it may well have been.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order: I ask the member for Lee to withdraw and apologise.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Once again, I did not hear what the member for Lee said. The Minister for Education has asked that the member for Lee, for whatever he said, withdraw and apologise. It was difficult for me to hear with all the banter going on.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I withdraw and apologise, sir.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Lee. I am going to re-put the question.

The house divided on the motion:

Ayes 24

Noes 21

Majority 3

Motion thus carried.