Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—It is worth while, while everyone is in the chamber, dealing with this so that all senators understand what will happen over the next couple of days. It is my intention, at the conclusion of this short statement, to move a motion to alter the hours of business for the Senate. I will go through that first. On Thursday—that is, today—the hours of meeting shall be, as we know, 9.30 am to 6.30 pm, when we will have a dinner break until 7.30 pm. Then we will go to adjournment. Adjournment will be at 11 pm. In addition, during today we will do a usual day—if I could say that, to the extent that it is—but consideration of general business, consideration of committee reports and government responses and Auditor-General reports will not be proceeded with. We will continue with routine of business from 12.45 pm until not later than 2 pm, which will be the non-controversial period and government business only. Then from not later than 4.15 pm—as I understand it—there will be a ministerial statement and there will be time to allow the opposition, the minor party and the Independents to contribute. It shall be government business from then on, on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation. Divisions may be taken after 4.30 pm today. If the Senate is still sitting at 11 pm then it shall be suspended until 9.30 am on Friday. On Friday, 27 November, the question for the adjournment shall be put at 3.45 pm.