Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Bills Constitution (Fixed Session Preceding Election) Amendment Bill CONSTITUTION (FIXED SESSION PRECEDING ELECTION) AMENDMENT BILL Second Reading Second Reading Adjourned debate on second reading. (Continued from 28 October 2009. Page 3745.) The Hon. M. PARNELL Legislative Council The Hon. M. PARNELL (20:31): I will speak briefly in support of this bill which seeks to ensure that this parliament sits again in February rather than our having to put up with a five month delay between the last sitting period in December and our return in late April or early May. We expect governments to make systems work to their advantage—and we put up with that. We know in relation to the media, for example, that the government often reserves important announcements until late in the day in order to ensure that only their side of a particular story gets coverage. When it comes to the sitting of parliament, there is no excuse for us to hide ourselves from the people for a such long time, in this case nearly five months. I am disappointed that we will not be voting on this bill tonight because there probably now will not be time for the other place to consider returning in February, but at least this council will make a clear decision that we think the best thing for democracy and the best thing for the people is to have more parliamentary sessions, not fewer; so I will be voting to come back in February. Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.