Standing Orders — Sessional

Mr Speaker, following discussion at the Business Committee, I seek leave to move the motion in my name on the Table to adopt the sessional order for permission to be absent on Thursday for return home.

💬 SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is none.

I move, That the House adopt the sessional order, Permission to be absent on Thursday for return home:

Permission to be absent on Thursday for return home

(1) On a Thursday, a member’s proxy vote is not counted towards the limit on proxy votes under Standing Order 146(2) if, at the time the proxy vote is cast, the member is absent from the House with permission to be absent granted under paragraph (2).

(2) A leader or whip of a party consisting of more than one member may grant any member of that party permission to be absent from the House if―

(a) the absence is for the purpose of enabling the member to return to their home, and

(b) the location of the member’s home means that it is not reasonably practicable for the member to return to there, on a Thursday, unless they leave the parliamentary precincts before 5 pm.

(3) The Speaker may grant permission to be absent under paragraph (2) to a member of a party consisting of one member or to an Independent member.

(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply when—

(a) the sitting has been extended under Standing Order 56, or

(b) business is being transacted under urgency.

(5) As soon as practicable after each sitting on a Thursday, the leader or whip of each party must report to the Clerk the number of members of that party who were absent during that Thursday with permission granted under paragraph (2).

(6) Standing Order 146 is read accordingly.

I’m seeing people raising their hands and thumbs up in agreement, so I don’t intend to take too much more of the House’s time. It’s been agreed with the Business Committee to allow a bit more flexibility for members returning home on a Thursday.

Motion agreed to.