Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While we are thanking people, Mr Speaker, can I thank the member for Fenner for showing the government that there are only 59 members of the opposition in the building—great job! Members will recall that I raised at the end of question time the process for tonight and tomorrow morning. I can report to the House that we have more clarity around the Senate's activities and their plans in terms of the request for the appropriation plus, of course, the actual amendments to the education bill. It is the intention of the government that we suspend in a moment until the ringing of the bells and not before half past seven. The reason for half past seven is that, if the Senate acts more quickly than we had originally anticipated, we might be able to do both the processes tonight that I talked about at the end of question time, which would free us up tomorrow morning. But, if we are not ready by 7.30 pm, we obviously will not ring the bells. So members can go out to dinner between now and half past seven—we will not ring the bells before half past seven—but you need to be back in the precinct by half past seven, and we will ring the bells—

Opposition Member:

An opposition member interjecting—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, you don't have to, of course, but we have to. We will ring the bells as soon as we get the message back from the Senate.

Proceedings suspended from 17:35 to 24:00

Friday, 23 June 201 7