On the day set aside for private members' business, one bill was introduced and four motions were debated. Of the four motions, two were agreed to after substantial amendment, one was defeated and debate on the fourth was adjourned until another day.
In the House – Thursday 21 June 2018
The House finished the week by again considering the Government’s compliance with orders for papers, and the House’s powers to compel the production of these documents – in particular Cabinet documents. The House also agreed to Assembly amendments to the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 introduced by Mr Green (Christian Democratic Party). This is the second time this Parliament that a private members’ bill originating in the Council has been agreed to by the Assembly. Several other items of private members’ business were considered, before the House finished the day by agreeing to the budget bills and returning them to the Assembly without amendment. The House stands adjourned to Tuesday 14 August 2018.
In the House – Wednesday 20 June 2018
On the last government business day before the winter recess the House adjourned in the early hours of the morning in consequence of its heavy legislative workload. The House agreed to five government bills and Assembly amendments to a sixth bill originating in the Council. The House set down consideration of a further two government bills received from the Assembly for after the winter recess.
In the House – Tuesday 19 June 2018
Tuesday began with the reporting of a message from the Assembly agreeing to a private members’ bill: the Public Health Amendment (Safe Access to Reproductive Health Clinics) Bill 2018, which was introduced by Ms Sharpe (Opposition) and co-sponsored by Mr Khan (The Nationals). This is the first time this Parliament that a private members’ bill originating in the Council has been agreed to by the Assembly. The budget papers were also tabled in the Council on Tuesday, after the Treasurer delivered the budget in the Legislative Assembly. The appropriation bills themselves are expected to arrive in the Council on Thursday. Further details on the budget process are contained in a previous post. The House considered one government bill, the Water Management Amendment Bill 2018. After lengthy consideration the bill was agreed to as amended and forwarded to the Legislative Assembly.
In the House – Thursday 7 June 2018
Thursday was a standard private members’ business day in the Council, with the exception of a message from the Assembly agreeing to a private members’ bill (the Modern Slavery Bill) subject to 22 amendments made in the other place. The House debated three private members’ motions before adjourning until 19 June, Budget Day, and the final sitting week before the winter recess.
In the House – Wednesday 6 June 2018
In another eventful day for the Council, the House again considered the Government’s response to orders for the production of documents. The documents ordered are now expected to be provided by 5.00 pm Friday 8 June. The heavy legislative workload continued in the lead up to the winter recess, with the House adjourning after midnight for the second time this week. In a significant development, the House agreed to amendments to the Government Sector Finance bills. The amendments, if agreed to by the Legislative Assembly, would reconstitute the Public Accounts Committee as a joint parliamentary committee with members from both Houses.
In the House – Thursday 17 May 2018
Thursday was a busy day for private members’ business in the Council. Two bills were introduced, debate commenced on two motions and the House agreed to order the production of papers relating to the Tune report on the out-of-home-care system. The House also voted to amend its proposed order of business to prioritise debate on the establishment of a new select committee, which was ultimately agreed to.