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  4. 8 May 2007

New Standing Orders

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SpeakersSpeaker
BusinessBusiness of the House


    NEW STANDING ORDERS
Page: 16


    The SPEAKER: I advise the House that on 21 February 2007 Her Excellency the Governor approved the standing orders adopted by the House on 21 November 2006. The standing orders take effect from today. I remind members that a number of procedures have changed, particularly those relating to the routine of business and to the passage of legislation. The new routine of business is set out in Standing Order 97. Question time will now be held closer to 2.15 p.m. A number of procedures that previously occurred before question time will now be dealt with at the conclusion of it. That includes the tabling of papers and committee reports, the announcement of the receipt of petitions and the matter of public importance, and the placing or disposal of business.

    Ministers will still be able to make ministerial statements before and after question time. Members will be able to give notices of motions for Government Business, bills and business with precedence prior to questions. Notices of motions to be accorded priority—the former motions for urgent consideration—will also be given before questions, as they were previously. Terminology and procedures for the passage of legislation have changed. Bills will now be introduced rather than read a first time. The second reading stage has been replaced with the agreement in principle stage. Amendments to legislation will now be considered in detail by the House rather than by the Committee of the Whole. If there is no consideration in detail stage the Chair will declare a bill to have passed the House unless a motion has been moved that the bill not be passed. If, however, the House considers a bill in detail the House will vote on the question that the bill be now passed.

    As members would have already noticed, the prayer and the acknowledgement of country read at the commencement of each sitting day have been revised, as the acknowledgement of country has now been formally adopted into the standing orders. Members should stand during both the prayer and the acknowledgement. I expect that it will take members a few weeks to adapt to many of the changes. I advise all members to familiarise themselves with the new standing orders and to raise any concerns with the Clerks. Your patience and co-operation will be appreciated as we all familiarise ourselves with the new procedures.

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