Sittings of the House

I seek leave for the House to continue sitting so that the Employment Relations (Flexible Working Hours) Amendment Bill may be completed, and, at the completion of the bill, for the House to then rise so that members can participate in the State dinner for the President of Indonesia.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think I heard a Government Minister saying that we should stop Parliament so he can go and have a rip-roaringly good dinner with the President of Indonesia.

💬 Hon Member: Flexible working hours.

Well, that is flexible working hours. That is one of the most outrageous proposals I have heard from a Minister for a long time. We are elected here to be members of Parliament, not to go and have dinners whenever we feel like it. Speaking on behalf of the ACT party, I say that we are here to represent the taxpayer and to keep the Government honest, and we most certainly will not agree to a proposal like that, regardless of how ambitious Mr Cunliffe might be to go to a dinner.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): So the member is taking objection.

Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.

I seek leave for the House to rise at the conclusion of this debate and the taking of the vote on the bill.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought. Is there any objection?

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The Government junior Minister put exactly the same proposal at 6 o’clock. The idea that Parliament should adjourn so that Government Ministers can go to a dinner is an outrage. The ACT party believes we are paid to be here as members of Parliament, and we are prepared to stay here. We most certainly will not agree, but of course if the Government wants to be more reasonable and allow question time next week, we will reconsider the matter.

💬 Madam SPEAKER: So there is an objection. Leave has been declined.