Business Statement

As advised to the Business Committee some time ago, next week the House will sit for extended hours in order to facilitate the passing of a range of non-controversial bills that have been on the Order Paper for some time. The House will also debate the first readings of some bills. It is the Government’s hope that we will have a question time each day next week, and that the extended hours will conclude by 6 p.m. on the Thursday evening.

I wonder whether the Leader of the House could confirm that just as a cut is now known as “changed funding”, urgency is now known as “extended hours” as part of the rebranding of the Standing Orders that is under way—if he could assist in respect of that. I also ask him whether the Government is committed to holding question time next week.

Firstly, I thank the member for the endorsement of the extended hours’ proposition. I think that is a very positive thing for the House. On the second point, yes, we are quite happy to have question time. That, of course, would be by leave of the House, given the nature of the proceedings, but members should expect that.