Business Statement

Next week, the House will consider urgent legislation relating to the cyclone recovery. The Business Committee will discuss how the bill will progress through its stages. Other legislation to be considered will include the committee stages of the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Bill, the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Amendment Bill, and the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2022-23, Platform Economy, and Remedial Matters) Bill (No 2). There will also be a debate on the report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday, which will also be the first members’ day of the year.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Leader of the House for the update, and I’m very pleased to note that the first members’ day for 2023 will be next Wednesday. By my calculations, given that there had been a members’ day missed at the end of last year, which was intended to be caught up through extended hours in February, we’re now two members’ days behind, even with next week’s.

Can he confirm that it’s the Government’s intention to ensure that those two members’ days are caught up in the normal programme, without extended hours?

It is certainly the intention of the Government that those members’ days are caught up. The matter of whether extended sitting hours will be used for that is something the Business Committee may discuss in the future.

I thank the Leader of the House for that clarification. I just note that extended hours are not as long as a full members’ day, so that’s an issue to be dealt with.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you to the Leader of the House. I just wanted to ask that having almost managed to get through it in the rush before Christmas, I notice that the Organic Products Bill has dropped to No. 13 on the Order Paper, and I just was wondering what his time frame is for the introduction of the final parts of that bill.

Oh, I think on this occasion, 13 is not an unlucky number.