Sitting week beginning Monday 20 August 2018

Sitting week beginning Monday, 20 August 2018 — 2nd House sitting week of the 45th Parliament’s 2018 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'.

The Federation Chamber is also expected to meet on Monday (10.30am to 1.30pm and from 4.00pm to 7.30pm), Tuesday (from 4.00pm to 7.30pm), Wednesday (from 10.00am to 1.30pm and from 4.00pm to 7.30pm) and on Thursday (from 10.00am 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 Monday in the House at 10.10am the following private Members’ bill is expected to be introduced:

• Aged Care Amendment (Staffing Ratio Disclosure) Bill 2018 — Ms Sharkie (CA, Mayo, SA)
• Social Security Commission Bill 2018 — Ms McGowan (Ind, Indi, Vic)
• Family Law Amendment (Review of Government Support for Single Parents) Bill 2018 — Mr Wilkie (Ind, Denison, Tas)
• Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2018 — Dr Leigh (ALP, Fenner, ACT)

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

• Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2018 Measures No. 1) Bill 2018
• Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2018
• Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Foreign Media Ownership and Community Radio) Bill 2017
• Space Activities Amendment (Launches and Returns) Bill 2018
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Sector Regulation) Bill 2018
• Unexplained Wealth Legislation Amendment Bill 2018
• Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2018

Tuesday

• Farm Household Support Amendment (Temporary Measures) Bill 2018
• Modern Slavery Bill 2018
• Social Services Legislation Amendment (Student Reform) Bill 2018

Wednesday

• Education and Other Legislation Amendment (VET Student Loan Debt Separation) Bill 2018
• Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Amendment Bill 2018
• Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties) Bill 2018
• Customs Amendment (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus Implementation) Bill 2018
• Customs Tariff Amendment (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus Implementation) Bill 2018
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Amendment (Indigenous Land Corporation) Bill 2018

Thursday

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund Bill 2018
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2018
• Migration Amendment (Clarification of Jurisdiction) Bill 2018
• Social Services Legislation Amendment (Housing Affordability) Bill 2017
• Bankruptcy Amendment (Enterprise Incentives) Bill 2017

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 10.30am the following private Members’ motions will be debated in the House:

• AIME mentoring program — Dr Chalmers (ALP, Rankin, Qld)
• Thailand cave rescue — Mrs Marino (Lib, Forrest, WA)

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

• Rohingya refugee crisis — Ms Claydon (ALP, Newcastle, NSW)
• Tuberculosis — Mr Entsch (Lib, Leichhardt, Qld)
• Fair Work Amendment (Restoring Penalty Rates) Bill 2018 — Mr Shorten (ALP, Maribyrnong, Vic)
• Personal income tax — Mr Evans (Lib, Brisbane, Qld)

At 4.45pm on Monday the following private Member’s items will be debated in the Federation Chamber:

• ABC privatisation — Ms Sharkie (CA, Mayo, SA)
• ASIC — Mr Robert (Lib, Fadden, NSW)
• Home care packages — Ms Collins (ALP, Franklin, Tas)
• Live Sheep Long Haul Export Prohibition Bill 2018 — Ms Ley (Lib, Farrer, NSW)

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. There will be no MPI on Tuesday because the debate on the condolence motion will take precedence.

• 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)