Wednesday 20 March 2019
Hansard of the Legislative Council

Legislative Council Sitting Schedule

Mr FINCH (Rosevears) - Mr President, thank you for that advice.  It is right and good advice too, but I also know the Leader always tries to accommodate our wishes as best she can.  She has made that suggestion, which I appreciate.

Mrs Hiscutt - While you are on your feet, I point out again the Government has bent over backwards with resources to members to get to this point.  We are quibbling over whether it is 11 o'clock or 12 o'clock or 1 o'clock, which is irrelevant because we will not get into the serious stuff until all the break-ins are done, which will be around the 2.30 p.m. start.

Mr FINCH - Your office would be working to try to fit people in as best you can.

Mrs Hiscutt - And try to bring them forward to tonight.

Mr FINCH - I am sure it has not been an easy process.  However, I share the view of a couple of members that it is not a good look for people who are waiting for this debate to commence in this Chamber.  Putting it on hold when it was suggested in writing that we would be bringing this debate forward means we are getting further and further towards the end of the sitting week.  It was supposed to be in this week.
I do not know whether we are going to continue through the afternoon into the evening, but I cannot see we are going, at the normal conclusion time of 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., to make as much progress as we and the participants in this debate would probably like to see.  I am only expressing my disappointment.  The suggestion was 2.30 p.m.; if we make it 11 a.m., that would give us a bit more flexibility to see how things turn out in the morning.

Mrs Hiscutt - Do you want to reiterate that the Government made the promise to bring this legislation on this week?  I think it is going to take more than two or three days to get through this, looking at all the amendments.  I am happy to say 11 a.m., but we will be in and out again straight away.  That seems silly to me.

Mr FINCH - I was reflecting earlier today that circumstances have changed compared to the first years of my being in this Chamber.  At that time we generally started at 11 a.m. and Michael Aird, who was then the leader, would adjourn for briefings after 11 a.m.  Now, Wednesdays and Thursdays particularly are a 9 a.m. start.  That was how the Leader at that stage ran business - we would start at 11 a.m. and then adjourn for briefings.

Mr PRESIDENT - As I have just advised, the Standing Orders say it is adjourned until 11 a.m. on a Wednesday and Thursday; it is then up to the Government when it brings its business forward and when it does not bring its business forward.  I hear what the honourable Leader has said.  I wonder whether we first have to take a vote on the original suggestion by the Leader or whether she is happy for the House to stand adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow?  What is it to be?

Motion (by leave) withdrawn