Motions

Sessional Orders

Mr BROWN (Playford) (22:43): I move that the house adopts the following sessional order:

When the house stands adjourned, the Speaker may require the house meet at an alternative time than that originally fixed:

1. The Speaker, if satisfied that the public interest requires it, may give notice that the house will meet at an alternative time;

2. The house meets at the time stated in the notice;

3. The business to be transacted when the house meets at the alternative time includes the business set down on the Notice Paper for the day to which the house had originally adjourned;

4. The dates set down for the remainder of the business on the Notice Paper may be altered by a motion moved without notice on the day on which the house resumes after the adjournment.

I want to indicate that this sessional order is very similar to standing order 57 except that, again, in the spirit of independence that this house has now established for itself, it no longer requires the minister to advise the Speaker that they request that the house sit. It then frees the Speaker to use their own judgement to make the house sit at an alternative time.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (22:44): It is no surprise, I am sure, to those opposite that the government does not support this, and for several reasons, including the fact that those opposite should be completely ashamed of themselves—all of those opposite should be completely ashamed of themselves for—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Those opposite should be completely ashamed of themselves for trying to jam something like this through, saying—and I think I will get this right—the whip from the opposition said 'in the house's newly found independence'. Mr Speaker, complete disrespect for the process of parliament, complete disrespect for the fact that—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the leader!

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Complete disrespect for the fact that there are two houses of this parliament, there is a Governor who will make some decisions, too, with regard to legislation if it passes both houses of parliament but, more importantly, the idea that the opposition would try to jam this through in this way is completely disgraceful.

I did actually hear members opposite during the debate on the last bill that we discussed in this chamber talking about how reverent they were with regard to convention, talking about how they thought it was very important that we conform with convention, that they actually respected that. But, of course, those words have just evaporated in a very short period of time because they want to throw all of that convention out of the window immediately.

For a wide range of reasons we oppose this bill. It is pure, base politicking without the best interests of South Australians in mind, just the best interests of those opposite. It is completely unacceptable and I know that the public will feel exactly the same way.

Mr BROWN (Playford) (22:47): I will not take up much of the house's time except to say that this is an opportunity for this house to declare that it believes that you, Mr Speaker, should be given the independence to make these decisions without having to be under the yoke of this government.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Schubert! The question before the house is that the motion to adopt the sessional order be agreed to. The Speaker counts the house ahead of consideration of the question for the adoption of a sessional order. There being an absolute majority of members present, I will put the question.

Motion carried.