Business Statement

When the House resumes on Tuesday, priority will be given to the remaining stages of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Committee stage of the Appropriation (2008/09 Estimates) Bill, which of course takes the form of the 8-hour estimates debate. If time allows, the Government will also seek to progress first readings of bills currently on the Order Paper. Wednesday is a members’ day.

I thank the Leader of the House and Deputy Prime Minister for that indication of what the Government hopes to progress as business. I would ask whether he is able to give us any further update on where things are with the emissions trading scheme bill, and also with the Real Estate Agents Bill, which was a high priority for the Government just a short time ago but now appears to be slipping down the Order Paper somewhat.

The Government now has, as no doubt members will notice, a very full Order Paper. There is plenty of work to continue through to the election, and indeed into the new term of the Government. On the other matters that the member raises, we shall see what progress is made.