Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
1:48 pm
Mr Deputy Speaker, on indulgence: it is anticipated that the House of Representatives will be able to rise at the scheduled time tonight. That is dependent on some events in the Senate over the coming hours but for the benefit of members on both sides of the House, at this stage that is the plan until otherwise advised.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
What happened to your busy agenda?
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
I thank the Leader of the House. Member for Dickson, that was an unwarranted interjection.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
It is quite extraordinary. I was asked to do this by the opposition—to indicate it to their members—but they cannot miss an opportunity to engage in juvenile behaviour. Parliament has been extremely well run. That is why we can leave at the time as determined. I am told that in the third last week of parliament sitting more bills were passed during that week than in any week in recent history. That was done with some cooperation on both sides of the House. As it is, we are rising at the scheduled time. If the opposition want to convey through the Manager of Opposition Business that they have the same view as the member opposite and wish to sit tonight, then certainly they can be accommodated, for whatever debate they want to take place. The government has ensured that in the conduct of this parliament it has put forward its legislation in a timely fashion and will continue to do so.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
No, you haven’t.
Ms Anna Burke Deputy-Speaker
The member for Dickson will abide by the order.