Sitting week beginning Tuesday 2 April, 2019

Sitting week beginning Tuesday, 2 April 2019 — 3rd House sitting week of the 45th Parliament’s 2019 autumn 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 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in a pattern similar to that described in the Infosheet 'A typical sitting day', with some variation due to the presentation of the Budget. On Tuesday at 7.30pm the Treasurer will deliver the Budget speech and on Thursday at 7.30pm the Leader of the Opposition will deliver the Budget reply.

The Federation Chamber is also expected to meet on Tuesday (from 4pm to 7.30pm), Wednesday (from 10am to 1.30pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm) and on Thursday (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.

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):

Tuesday

• Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2018
• Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2018-2019
• Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2018-2019
• Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2018-2019
• Supply Bill (No. 1) 2018-2019
• Supply Bill (No. 2) 2018-2019
• Supply Bill (Parliamentary Departments (No. 1) 2018-2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (North Queensland Flood Recovery) Bill 2019
• Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Amendment Bill 2019
• Aged Care Amendment (Movement of Provisionally Allocated Places) Bill 2019
• Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and their Families First) Bill 2019
• Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Single Treatment Pathway) Bill 2019
• National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Worker Screening Database) Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Reforms No. 1) Bill 2019

Wednesday

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Increasing the Instant Asset Write-Off for Small Business Entities) Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Design and Distribution Obligations and Product Intervention Powers) Bill 2018
• Australian Business Securitisation Fund Bill 2019
• Customs Tariff Amendment (Craft Beer) Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (2019 Measures No. 1) Bill 2019
• Excise Tariff Amendment (Supporting Craft Brewers) Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Mutual Reforms) Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Improving Accountability and Member Outcomes in Superannuation Measures No. 1) Bill 2019
• Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Amendment Bill 2018
• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Amendment (Enhancing Australia's Anti-Doping Capability) Bill 2019

Thursday

• Counter-Terrorism (Temporary Exclusion Orders) Bill 2019
• Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2018
• Fair Work Amendment (Right to Request Casual Conversion) Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Illegal Phoenixing) Bill 2019
• Commonwealth Registers Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Registries Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2019
• Business Names Registration (Fees) Amendment (Registries Modernisation) Bill 2019
• Corporations (Fees) Amendment (Registries Modernisation) Bill 2019
• National Consumer Credit Protection (Fees) Amendment (Registries Modernisation) 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

Committee reports will be presented on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Refer to the Daily Program each day for details.   

Auditor-General’s reports

2018-19 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)