Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That:

(1)

the House invite His Excellency, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, to attend and address the House on Wednesday, 10 March 2010, at 2 pm;

(2)

unless otherwise ordered, at this sitting of the House:

(a)

notices and orders of the day, government business shall have precedence until 12 noon when the sitting of the House automatically shall be suspended until the ringing of the bells;

(b)

the sitting will resume at approximately 2 pm when the proceedings shall be welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and an address by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, after which the sitting of the House automatically shall be suspended until the ringing of the bells and that so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the order of business for the remainder of the sitting until the adjournment debate commences at 7.30pm being as follows:

(i)

documents

(ii)

Ministerial Statements

(iii)

notices and orders of the day, government business.

(c)

the provisions of standing order 257(c) shall apply to the area of Members’ seats as well as the galleries;

(3)

a message be sent to the Senate inviting Senators to attend the House as guests for the welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and address by His Excellency, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia; and

(4)

any variation to this arrangement be made only by an action by the Speaker or by a motion moved by a Minister.

His Excellency Dr Yudhoyono will address this parliament on Wednesday, 10 March at 2 pm. The House will meet as usual at 9 am to consider the introduction of bills and government business. The parliament will then suspend at 12 noon for the official luncheon in the Great Hall. The President will address the House of Representatives at 2 pm with both members and senators present. The parliament will again suspend following the address of His Excellency and resume at approximately 4 pm with the tabling of documents, statements and the resumption of debate. There will be no question time. Parliament will adjourn as usual at 7.30 pm.

The visit by the recently re-elected Indonesian President, and his address to the House, are deeply significant. Such an invitation is reserved for a very small number and it reflects the strength and importance of the Australia-Indonesia relationship. Indonesia is emerging not just as a regional strength but as a global influence, as its G20 membership reflects. Its strategic, social and economic importance to Australia in this century cannot be overestimated. We look forward very much to the address to the House by President Yudhoyono. I commend the changed arrangements to the House.

Question agreed to.