Chapter 10 - Debate
Time
limits on debates and speeches
Time limits are
imposed on debates in the Senate and on senators’ speeches.
A senator may not
speak for more than 20 minutes in any debate in the Senate (SO 189(1)).
This time limit applies to debates generally, but special time limits
are imposed on particular debates and on speeches under other provisions in the
standing orders, as follows:
-
election
of President (SO 6(2)):
each senator: 15 minutes
-
motions
on Selection of Bills Committee reports (SO 24A(7)):
each senator: 5 minutes
total limit: 30 minutes
-
adjournment
of the Senate (SO 54(5)):
each senator: 10 minutes
total limit: 40 minutes (See Supplement)
-
matters
of public interest at 12.45 pm on Wednesdays (SO 57(2)):
each senator: 15 minutes
total limit: till 2 pm
-
government documents (SO 61):
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays:
each senator: 5 minutes
total limit: 30 minutes
at general business
on Thursdays:
each senator:
5 minutes
total limit: 1
hour
-
committee
reports and government responses (SO 62):
each senator: 10 minutes
total limit : 1 hour
-
motions
to take note of answers after question time (SO 72(4)):
each senator: 5
minutes
total limit for all motions: 30 minutes
-
urgency
motion or matter of public importance (SO 75):
each speaker: 10 minutes
total
limit: 1 hour or 90 minutes if no motions moved to take note of answers at question
time
-
first
reading, non-amendable bill (SO 112(2)):
each senator: 15 minutes
-
motions
and amendments to refer bills to committees (SO 24A(7), 115(6)):
each senator: 5 minutes
total limit: 30 minutes
-
bills
declared to be urgent — allotment of time (SO 142):
each senator: 10 minutes
total limit: 1 hour
-
motions by leave to take note of documents (SO 169(2)):
each senator: 10 minutes
total limit: 30 minutes per motion, 60 minutes for
consecutive motions
-
motions
for suspension of standing orders (SO 209(4)):
each senator: 5
minutes
total limit: 30 minutes
Where the general
time limit of 20 minutes applies to a debate, a senator
may move that the time limit be extended by not more than 10 minutes, and that
motion is put without debate (SO 189(1)). This
procedure applies only to the time limit specified in that standing order, that
is, the general time limit of 20 minutes, as the terms of the standing order
clearly indicate. Such a motion may not be moved when other speaking time
limits apply; in those circumstances a speaker’s time may be extended only by
leave (a motion to extend such a speaking time limit could be moved pursuant to
a suspension of standing orders).
The 20 minute limit applies to a senator speaking in reply to a general
debate, and there is no provision for that limit to be extended (SO 189(2)).
In committee of the
whole, a senator may not
speak for more than 15 minutes on each occasion on each question, but where the
speech of a senator is interrupted by this provision and no other senator rises
to speak, the senator speaking may continue for a further 15 minutes (SO 189(3)). This means
that if only one senator seeks the call to speak on a question there is
effectively a total time limit of 30 minutes. In practice, senators are,
in effect, granted extensions of time by other senators rising and seeking the
call for the purpose of allowing the senator speaking to continue.
Time occupied in
raising and determining points of order and
in forming quorums does not
affect the time allowed for a senator to speak (SO 52(7), 197(6)).
The Senate may set special time limits for particular debates by
special order.
A debate which is interrupted by the expiration of a total time limit
for the debate is taken to be adjourned (SO 68; see Chapter 8,
Conduct of Business, under Interruption of business).
Previous page | Contents | Next page
Website feedback: web.senate@aph.gov.au
Last reviewed 10 September 2010 by the Senate Web Administrator
© Commonwealth of Australia
Parliament of Australia Web Site Privacy Statement
Images courtesy of AUSPIC
|
