Consideration of Private Senators’ Bills

The following table shows steps in the progress of a private senator's bill, how it is documented and what changes would be desirable to facilitate their consideration under the new procedures.

Stage
(NB: some of these stages may occur concurrently)
How documented Desirable

Bill introduced, read a first time, second reading moved and debate adjourned

NB: applies to a bill introduced in the Senate or received from the House of Representatives and sponsored by a senator other than a minister

Entered on the Notice Paper as a general business order of the day, given a unique number, stage reached is shown

Example:

34 Responsible Takeaway Alcohol Hours Bill 2010—(Senate bill)(Leader of the Family First Party, Senator Fielding)

Second reading—Adjourned debate (Senator Fielding, in ontinuation, 30 September 2010).

PSBs to be listed in their own section of the Notice Paper under Orders of the Day for the consideration of private senators' bills'

Consideration by Selection of Bills Committee and report to the Senate showing recommendations for bills to be referred or not referred, and list of bills deferred to another meeting

NB: a recommendation for non-referral does not preclude later referral by another method such as motion on notice or second reading amendment

Selection of Bills Committee report reproduced in Journals and Hansard. Decisions arising from report reflected in Notice Paper, eg in 'Bills referred to committees' and 'Business for future consideration' section (which shows when reports are due and when bills become available for debate)

List of PSBs to be annotated and circulated by Table Office to whips and managers

If bill referred – consideration by a legislation or select committee and report to the Senate

Committee report and other records, including Journals, Notice Paper and Bills List

As above

Consideration by party rooms etc in accordance with internal party practices

Not publicly documented

Whips to feed this information into forward program list

Based on annotated list prepared by Table Office, Whips compile a forward program for each 6-month period, including notional allocation of Thursday mornings to parties/independents and possible list of bills to be considered, indicating debate-ready status of bills (all subject to change) [NEW]

List published on Senate website and circulated in the same way that a government's forward legislative program is circulated (Table Office to provide secretariat support)

If this list is regularly updated as the status of bills changes, then it can be the source of information included on the weekly forward program issued by the PLO, provided that, in a non-sitting week preceding a sitting week, this information is available by COB Tuesday

Bill has been cleared through party processes (including any ministerial/Cabinet processes), has been reported from committee (or not referred) and is ready for debate

Bills are listed on the weekly forward program

In Week 1, bills for consideration on Thursday are designated by a motion moved on the first available sitting day (Monday or Tuesday)

For Week 2 bills, the motion designating them is moved on Thursday of Week 1

Weekly forward program includes information on PSBs

Once designated by motion, list of bills appears in the Notice Paper in 'Business for future consideration' under the relevant date, eg:

On 16 June 2011

General Business—Private Senators’ Bills—Orders of the Day [list of bills]

On the relevant date, this list appears at the front of the Notice Paper

(NB: this happens currently)