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Senate weekly routine of business

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Routine of business in the Senate as set out in standing order 57 and related orders (as at 14 May 2003)

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

12.30 pm Prayers

Government business only

2 pm Questions

Motions to take note of answers
(Time limit: 30 mins)

Petitions

Notices of motion

Placing of business

Discovery of formal business

MPI or urgency motion
(Time limit: 1 hr, or if no motions to take note, 90 mins)

Ministerial statements

Tabling of documents

Committee memberships

Messages from House of Representatives

Order of business

6.30 to Sitting suspended—
7.30 pm (DINNER BREAK)

7.30 pm Order of business continued

9.50 pm Adjournment proposed
(Time limit: 40 mins)

12.30 pm Prayers

Government documents
(Presented pursuant to order)

Government business only

2 pm Questions

Motions to take note of answers
(Time limit: 30 mins)

Petitions

Notices of motion

Placing of business

Discovery of formal business

MPI or urgency motion
(SO 75—Time limit: 1 hr, or if no motions to take note, 90 mins)

Ministerial statements

Tabling of documents

Committee memberships

Messages from House of Representatives

Order of business

6.50 pm Consideration of
government documents
tabled earlier in the day
(SO 61—Time limit: 30 mins)

7.20 pm Adjournment proposed
(No time limit)

9.30 am Prayers

Government documents
(Presented pursuant to order)

Government business only

12.45 pm Discussion of matters of
public interest (SO 57(2))

2 pm Questions

Motions to take note of answers
(Time limit: 30 mins)

Petitions

Notices of motion

Placing of business

Discovery of formal business

MPI or urgency motion
(SO 75—Time limit: 1 hr, or if no motions to take note, 90 mins)

Tabling and consideration
of committee reports
(SO 62(4)—Time limit: 1 hr)

Ministerial statements

Tabling of documents

Committee memberships

Messages from House of Representatives

Order of business

6.50 pm Consideration of
government documents
tabled earlier in the day
(SO 61—Time limit: 30 mins)

7.20 pm Adjournment proposed
(Time limit: 40 mins)

9.30 am Prayers

Petitions

Notices of motion

Placing of business

Discovery of formal business

Tabling and consideration
of committee reports
(SO 62(4)—Time limit: 1 hr)

Committee memberships

Messages from House of Representatives

Order of business

12.45 pm If agreed to, ‘non-
controversial’ legislation

2 pm Questions

Motions to take note of answers
(Time limit: 30 mins)

MPI or urgency motion
(Time limit: 1 hr, or if no motions to take note, 90 mins)

Ministerial statements

Government responses to parliamentary committee reports

Tabling of documents

Not later General business
than (Notices of motion and
4.30 pm orders of the day)

Not later General business, cont.
than (SO 61(3)—Consideration of
6 pm government documents. Time
limit: 1 hr)

Not later Consideration of committee
than reports and government
7 pm responses and Auditor- General’s reports (SO 62—
Time limit: 1 hr)

8 pm Adjournment proposed
(Time limit: 40 mins)

General Times

Times of meetings of the Senate

Monday	12.30 pm to 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm
Tuesday†	12.30 pm to adjournment
Wednesday†	9.30 am to 8 pm
Thursday	9.30 am to 8.40 pm

	† = Broadcast day

Petitions close (see: Brief Guide* No. 21—Petitions)

9.30 am on a day on which the Senate sits at 12.30 pm.

5 pm on the day prior to the Senate sitting at 9.30 am.

Questions on notice close (see: Brief Guide* No. 17—Questions)

At 5 pm on sitting days and 2 pm on the Wednesday before the next day of sitting in non-sitting weeks.

Senate Numbers

Quorum	19 (one-quarter)
Absolute majority	39

Debating Opportunities and Time Limits

(see: Brief Guide* No. 4—Rules of Debate)

Bills (see: Brief Guide* No. 9—Consideration of legislation)

1° of non-amendable bill	15 mins	SO 112(2)
2°	20 mins	SO 189(1)
In committee	15 mins	SO 189(3)
	(+ possible extension of 15 mins)
3°	20 mins	SO 189(1)
Selection of Bills Committee— adoption of report	5 mins	SO 24A(7)
	(limit for debate: 30 mins)
Reference of a bill to committee	5 mins	SO 115(6)
	(limit for debate: 30 mins)

SO = standing orders

* Brief Guides to Senate Procedure at www.aph.gov.au/senate/pubs/guides/index.htm

Debating Opportunities and Time Limits—continued

Committee reports and government responses (see: Brief Guide* No. 3—Opportunities for debating documents and reports)

Motions relating to report on Wednesday or Thursday	10 mins	SO 62(4)
	(limit for debate: 1 hr)
Resumption (Thursday)	10 mins	SO 62(1)
	(limit for debate: 1 hr)

Debate

General	20 mins	SO 189(1)
Extension of time (possible)	10 mins	SO 189(1)
In committee	15 mins	SO 189(3)
In reply	20 mins	SO 189(2)

Documents (General)

Motions moved by leave	10 mins	SO 169(2)
	(limit for debate: 30 mins per motion, 1 hr for all motions)

Government documents—consideration (see: Brief Guide* No. 3—Opportunities for debating documents and reports)

Motion to take note (Tuesday and Wednesday)	5 mins	SO 61(3)
	(limit for debate: 30 mins)
Resumption (Thursday)	5 mins	SO 61(3)
	(limit for debate: 1 hr)

Matters of Public Importance/Urgency (see: Brief Guide* No. 10—Matters of public importance and Urgency)

All speakers	10 mins	SO 75(7)
	(limit for debate: 1 hr, or 90 mins if no motions are moved after question time to take note of answers)

Discussion of matters of public interest

15 mins - SO 57(2)

Questions (see: Brief Guide* No. 17—Questions)

Without notice
Asking question	1 min	SO 72(3)
Answering question	4 mins	SO 72(3)
Supplementary question	1 min	SO 72(3)
Answering supplementary	1 min	SO 72(3)
Debate on motions relating to answers	5 mins	SO 72(4)
	(limit for debate: 30 mins)

Suspension of standing orders (see: Brief Guide* No. 5—Suspension of standing orders)

5 mins - SO 209(4) - (limit for debate: 30 mins)

Debate for the election of the President of the Senate

15 mins - SO 6(2)

Adjournment of the Senate -

10 mins - SO 54(5) - (limit for debate: 40 mins, except for Tuesday which has no limit on debate)

SO = standing orders

* Brief Guides to Senate Procedure at www.aph.gov.au/senate/pubs/guides/index.htm

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