Business Statement

Next week the House goes into a 1-week adjournment. When the House resumes on Tuesday, 13 March priority will be given to the Committee stage of the Appropriation (2005/06 Financial Review) Bill, which is a 4-hour debate; the remaining stages of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill and the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 2); and the first reading of the Armed Forces Law Reform Bill. Wednesday is a members’ day.

I thank the Leader of the House for the information, but may I say the worry would obviously have to continue for him that his Government is going to run out of work, with the announcement that it has only one first reading planned for the entire 4-week session when we get back. I am wondering whether he might indicate to the House how soon we will get to the Conservation (Protection of Trout as a Non-commercial Species) Amendment Bill. We have speakers who have been waiting for some 9 years to add a contribution on that bill. We commend the Minister for his management of the House, if it means the bill will finally come before us.

He, like me, and like the rest of the House’s old trout, will have to wait, probably indefinitely, for the passage of that particular legislation. The first reading I referred to is in the first week; I can assure the member there will be a range of other first readings to consider. There is also a very considerable amount of material before the select committees, which is due to come back to the House in the not very distant future. However, I am grateful to the member for his continued cooperation in the way the House now processes legislation—quite quickly and very effectively.

I seek leave to table a copy of the Government’s legislative programme, indicating there is very little coming out of select committees and that we will most likely be having to review the sitting hours for the year in order to avoid the Government looking very, very embarrassed, indeed.

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