Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I put the question that the Main Committee do now adjourn, standing order 186 states:

The Deputy Speaker must set the meeting times of the committee, notify the times to all members, and take the chair when the committee meets.

This morning, following a vote in the main chamber, the Main Committee—which had suspended its proceedings to allow the vote to take place—resumed with me in the chair. One member was talking, and then the government member left the chamber, apparently on instruction. I subsequently found out that there had been an agreement between the whips that the Main Committee would not resume until after the series of votes in the main chamber had taken place.

I gently remind honourable members, including the whips, that the Deputy Speaker sets the times for the meeting of the Main Committee, and while I am entirely happy to be very reasonable, if there is an agreement between the whips that the Main Committee ought not to meet until a series of votes has taken place, or ought not to meet at some particular time, then I think it should be conveyed to me as Deputy Speaker. It was just a little bit embarrassing both for the member who was speaking and, I think, for this chamber when we lost a quorum and I had to suspend the meeting of the Main Committee at that time. I do not believe there was anything intentional in it, but if there is an agreement between the whips that for some reason the Main Committee ought not to meet then please convey it to me, and usually I will be more than happy to facilitate the implementation of that agreement.