Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

To commence with, for the information for honourable members, I would like to present the Agreement for Members to Contribute Remotely to Parliamentary Proceedings, which has been made pursuant to the resolution adopted by the House on 23 March 2020.

I'd like to say a few brief words with respect to that. Obviously this is the agreement that has been made between me and the Manager of Opposition Business in relation to allowing members to contribute remotely to parliamentary proceedings. I'd like to thank the Manager of Opposition Business for his consultation and cooperation in the joint design of this agreement, and you, Mr Speaker, for your assistance.

Members will be aware that the agreement will facilitate members contributing remotely via the official parliamentary video system. It's probably useful to clarify here, for the benefit of all members, that where we talk about 'contribution to debate' that includes members' statements, discussions on matters of public importance, statements made by leave and ministerial statements. These will be treated as though they are contributions to the debate, for the purposes of the official parliamentary video facility referred to in the agreement. I might also just note that the words that are used in the agreement, which, from recollection, are, 'essentially impossible, unreasonably impracticable, or give rise to an unreasonable risk for the member', are meant to delineate a distinction between those who are applying to use the facility—between people who have been inconvenienced, indeed, even seriously inconvenienced, and those who can properly apply to use the facilities, which are those who, in all of the circumstances, have found it virtually impossible or simply impractical for whatever reason to attend in person. I'm sure it will work. It will be an innovation that will benefit the House during this very unusual period.

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