Chapter 8 - Conduct
of proceedings
Government
and general business
Government business
(business initiated by ministers) takes precedence over general business
(business initiated by other senators) at all times except for two and a half
hours on Thursday at the stage indicated in the routine of business (SO 59).
During the three “quarantined” periods for government business, 12.30
pm to 2 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays and 9.30 am to 12.45 pm on Wednesdays, only
government business may be transacted, and everything else requires leave or a
suspension of standing orders (30/8/2004, J.3947).
Ministers
occasionally initiate business with an indication that they do so in a private
and not a ministerial capacity. Such business is entered on the Notice Paper as
general business.
A motion for the
consideration or adoption of the report of a committee of the Senate and any
government statement on such a report takes precedence over other general
business on the day on which it is set down for consideration (SO 60).
In practice, the order of business is usually rearranged to determine
the items of general business which will be considered each Thursday. This is
often done by a motion moved by a minister under standing order 56; the items of
business specified in such a motion are the only items to be considered during
the available time. The items to be considered are usually determined by
agreement between the non-government parties in the Senate. Committee reports
are usually not considered at the time for general business, but in accordance
with the special provisions for their consideration under standing order 62 (see below).
If a business of the Senate item is under consideration or not reached
at the time for the commencement of general business, it takes precedence in
accordance with standing order 58.
The Senate may extend the time for consideration of general business (11/4/1991, J.924-6).
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