Sitting week beginning Wednesday, 10 June 2020

Sitting week beginning Wednesday 10 June 2020 — 2nd House sitting week of the 46th Parliament’s 2020 winter 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 Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday the Leader of the House is expected to move a suspension of standing orders to provide for the time and order of business for the remainder of the week. The motion will propose private Members’ business be given priority on Wednesday morning in the House and Federation Chamber. On Thursday, 12 June the House is expected to sit in a pattern similar to that described in the Infosheet 'A typical sitting day' for a Wednesday and on Friday, 13 June to sit in a pattern similar to that described in the Infosheet 'A typical sitting day' for a Thursday.

The Federation Chamber is expected to meet on Wednesday (from 10am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm), on Thursday (from 10am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm) and on Friday (from 10am to approximately 1.00pm).

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 Wednesday in the House at approximately 9.30am the following private Members’ bills are expected to be introduced:

• Family Law Amendment (A Step Towards a Safer Family Law System) Bill 2020 — Mr Perrett (ALP, Moreton, Qld)
• Green New Deal (Quit Coal and Renew Australia) Bill 2020 — Mr Bandt (AG, Melbourne, Vic)
• Interactive Gambling Amendment (Banning Social Casinos and Other Measures) Bill 2020 — Mr Wilkie (Ind, Clark, Tas)

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):

Wednesday

• Export Control Legislation Amendment (Certification of Narcotic Exports) Bill 2020
• National Skills Commissioner Bill 2020
• Payment Times Reporting Bill 2020
• Payment Times Reporting (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020
• National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020
• Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Amendment (APRA Industry Funding) Bill 2020
• Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2020
• Authorised Non-operating Holding Companies Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2020
• General Insurance Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2020
• Life Insurance Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2020
• Retirement Savings Account Providers Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2020
• Superannuation Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2020

Thursday

• Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Bill 2019
• Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Improving Assistance for Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Families) Bill 2020
• Treasury Laws Amendment (More Flexible Superannuation) Bill 2020
• Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measure No. 2) Bill 2020
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Bill 2020
• Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Bill 2020

Friday

• National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Governance and Other Matters) Bill 2020
• Services Australia Governance Amendment Bill 2020
• Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Wellbeing of Veterans and Their Families) Bill 2020

In the Federation Chamber debate on Government business matters and committee and delegation reports will occur on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 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 Wednesday at approximately 10am the following private Members’ motions will be debated in the House:

• Mental health — Ms McBride (ALP, Dobell, NSW)
• General Motors — Mr Ramsey (LP, Grey, SA)

At 10.30am on Monday the following private Member’s motions will be debated in the Federation Chamber.

• Universities — Ms Plibersek (ALP, Sydney, NSW)
• Headspace — Mrs Archer (LP, Bass, Tas)
• Charities — Dr Leigh (ALP, Fenner, ACT)
• Country Women’s Association— Dr Webster (NP, Mallee, Tas)

Auditor-General’s reports

2019-20 reports of the Auditor-General already released will be presented after question time on Wednesday. Further reports may be presented on Thursday and Friday.

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

Matters of Public Importance

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 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

It is expected that a Grievance Debate will be held on Wednesday in the Federation Chamber. At no later than 6.30pm debate will be resumed on the question ‘That grievances be noted’ and debate will ensue 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)