Business Statement

Next week in the House, priority will be given to the remaining stages of the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill, the Holidays Amendment Bill, the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill, and the first reading of the Education (Establishment of Universities) Amendment Bill.

My having noticed the amount of legislation that the Government has on its hands and the relatively slow progress of that legislation, and my also having noticed how much legislation is about to come out of select committees that the Government has indicated it wants passed by Christmas, I ask whether the House can expect the Government to call for urgency during either this sitting period or the next.

If the member is making an offer, I would be very pleased to meet with him and follow it up. [Interruption]

💬 Mr SPEAKER: I will not have any remarks made like that. The member will stand up, withdraw, and apologise. He is very lucky to stay in the House.

I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: It had better not be in relation to that.

It is.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: It had better not be in relation to withdrawing that particular comment.

No, of course not. Mr Speaker, a number of times you have made it very clear that, when we go into this process, we should be asking questions that relate strictly to the business of the House, and that this is not an occasion for political point-scoring. You have pointed that out a number of times. I wonder whether the Minister, given his relevant inexperience in this role, might take that advice and just give us a straight answer.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Could the Hon Mark Burton give a straight answer.

I cannot give the member any indication at this stage of any intended urgency.