Sitting week beginning 9 November 2020

Sitting week beginning Monday, 9 November 2020 — 8th House sitting week of the 46th Parliament’s 2020 spring sittings.

This page summarises matters expected to be considered by the House of Representatives and its Federation Chamber. It is updated weekly during sittings. For a full report of the business dealt with, including a list of documents presented, go to the Votes and Proceedings. To read the debates, including question time, go to Hansard.

For details about the proposed program of business for each sitting of the House and Federation Chamber and that sitting’s public hearings of House and joint committees go to the House Daily Program (usually available at least 1 hour before the House is scheduled to meet).

This week the House is expected to sit on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in a pattern similar to that described in the Infosheet 'A typical sitting day'. 

For details about House and Federation Chamber standard hours see the order of business diagram at http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Chamber_documents/HoR/Order_of_Business

Real time tracking of business done by the House and the Federation Chamber

You can track each item of business as it is being done in the House Chamber and the Federation Chamber by using the “LiveMinutes” service.

You can see proceedings of the House and the Federation Chamber via the webcasts at www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen.

Legislation

For information on how laws are made go to 'Making Laws', for the text of each bill go to Billsnet after the Bill is introduced.

Government bills are expected to be introduced into the House this week. These bills will be listed on the House Daily Program and the text of each bill will be available on ParlInfo after they are introduced.

Details of bills to be introduced are not available prior to their introduction.

On Monday in the House at 10.20am the following private Member’s bills are expected to be introduced:

• Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 — Ms Steggall (Ind, Warringah, NSW)
• Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020 — Ms Steggall (Ind, Warringah, NSW)

In the House during the week it is planned to resume debate on the following Government bills already introduced (note – these plans may change as the week unfolds, especially if some of the bills listed below are referred to the Federation Chamber by the House):

Monday

• Social Services and other Legislation (Coronavirus and Other Measures Bill 2020
• Fair Work Amendment (Improving Unpaid Parental Leave for Parents of Stillborn Babies and Other Measures) Bill 2020
• Native Title Amendment (Infrastructure and Public Facilities) Bill 2019
• Broadcasting Services Amendment (Regional Commercial Radio and Other Measures) Bill 2020
• Family Law Amendment (Risk Screening Protections) Bill 2020
• Family Law Amendment (Western Australia De Facto Superannuation Splitting and Bankruptcy) Bill 2019
• Education Legislation Amendment (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection) Bill 2020
• Higher Education (Up-front Payments Tuition Protection) Bill 2020
• Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Wellbeing of Veterans and Their Families) Bill 2020
• Health Insurance Amendment (Administration) Bill 2020

Tuesday

• Social Services and Other Legislation (Omnibus) Bill 2020
• Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020
• Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020
• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020
• Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Bill 2020
• Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020
• Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020

Wednesday

• Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Category Standards and Other Measures) Bill 2020
• Excise Levies Legislation Amendment (Sheep and Lamb) 2020
• Customs Charges and Levies Legislation Amendment (Sheep and Lamb) Bill 2020
• Wine Australia Amendment (Label Directory) Bill 2019
• Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Grid Reliability Fund) Bill 2020

Thursday

• Aviation Legislation Amendment (Liability and Insurance) Bill 2020
• Foreign Investment Reform (Protecting Australia’s National Security) Bill 2020
• Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2020
• Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Bill 2020
• Civil Aviation Amendment (Unmanned Aircraft Levy Collection and Payment) Bill 2020
• Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2019

In the Federation Chamber debate on Government business matters and committee and delegation reports occurs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Debate may be resumed on matters previously referred or items may be referred during the week.

• See also: Infosheet 7 – Making Laws

Committee and delegation reports and statements and private Members’ motions

On Monday at approximately 10.10am statements on the following inquiry by a committee made in the House:

• Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts :Inquiry into Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutions

Private Members’ motions

On Monday at approximately 10.30am the following private Members’ motions will be debated in the House:

• Remembrance Day — Mr Thompson (LNP, Herbert, Qld)
• South-west Sydney — Ms Stanley (ALP, Werriwa, NSW)
• Anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin — Mr Sharma (LP, Wentworth, NSW)
• Nuclear weapons — Mr J. H. Wilson (ALP, Fremantle, WA)

At 11am on Monday the following private Member’s motions will be debated in the Federation Chamber.

• Electronic cigarettes and personal vaporisers — Dr Freelander (ALP, Macarthur, NSW)
• Manufacturing businesses — Mrs McIntosh (LP, Lindsay, NSW)
• Tasmanian health system — Mr Wilkie (Ind, Clark, Tas)

Auditor-General’s reports

2020-21 reports of the Auditor-General may be presented after question time.

• Audit Reports on Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) website

Matters of Public Importance

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after question time, in accordance with the House's standing orders, it is possible for the House to discuss a matter of public importance (MPI). If an MPI is proposed by a Member, and is in order, the subject of the MPI will be announced shortly after midday on each of these days and published on the House's website. If more than one MPI is proposed the Speaker will decide which MPI is the most urgent and important to be submitted to the House that day.

• See also: Infosheet 2 – A typical sitting day

Grievance debate

In accordance with standing orders Grievance Debate is held on sitting Tuesdays in the Federation Chamber. At no later than 6.30pm debate is resumed on the question ‘That grievances be noted’ and debate ensues for one hour. Debate on the question is practically unlimited in scope, giving Members the opportunity, in 10 minute speeches, to raise matters in which they have a particular interest or to discuss complaints of constituents.

• Order of business diagrams

Petitions

This week Members' may present petitions during the time reserved for Members' Statements in the House and the Federation Chamber, during the time reserved for Members’ constituency statements in the Federation Chamber and during the Adjournment Debates of the House and the Federation Chamber.

For more details about petitioning the House of Representatives see the petitions webpage.

For details about House and Federation Chamber debate times see the order of business diagram.

See Also:

• Petitioning the House of Representatives
• Standing Committee on Petitions
• House and Federation Chamber debate times (order of business diagrams)