12 pm
Prayers and acknowledgement of country
The bells ring for 5 minutes prior to the Senate meeting. Senators stand as the President is announced by the Black rod.
The President bows to each side of the chamber; senators return the bow.
The President reads a prayer and makes an acknowledgement of country: standing order 50
Documents (presented pursuant to order)
A list of documents to be tabled will be attached to the Red. These documents include:
- annual reports of government departments and agencies (often referred to as "government documents"
- reports of the Auditor-General
- responses to Senate resolutions
- reports relating to the administration of the parliamentary departments (excluding the Department of the House of Representatives).
Documents may be debated in the afternoon.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure Nos 10 - Tabling of documents and 11 - Opportunities for debating documents and reports
Clerk's documents
Tabling of documents required to be presented by Acts of Parliament (legislative instruments: eg regulations, determinations, rules, orders)
See also Guide to Senate Procedure Nos 10 - Tabling of documents and 11 - Opportunities for debating documents and reports
Committees - proposals to meet
Under standing order 33, a committee requires leave of the Senate to meet during sitting. Proposals to meet are listed on the Red and unless objected to are deemed to be approved.
Government business only
Debate on motions moved by ministers - principally government bills.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure No. 16 - Consideration of legislation
2 pm
Questions
Time limit - approximately an hour
Motions to take note of answers
Opportunity to debate answers given during question time. Time limit - 30 minutes; 5 minute speeches
See also Guide to Senate Procedure No. 6 - Questions
Petitions
Presentation of petitions is announced by the Clerk.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure No. 7 - Petitions
Notices of motion given
All decisions of the Senate begin as motions moved by senators. The first step is usually for a senator to give notice of his or her intention to move a motion.
Placing of business
Consideration of a notice of motion may be postponed and business items may be rearranged. Routine committee matters and leave of absence for senators are also dealt with here.
Formal business
Motions are voted on without debate
See also Guide to Senate Procedure Nos 4 - Categories of business and 8 - Notices of motion
MPI or urgency motion
Discussion or debate on a matter lodged by letter to the President of the Senate. Time limit 1 hour or, if no motions to take note of answers, 90 minutes.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure No. 9 - Matters of Public Importance and Urgency
Consideration of documents tabled earlier in the day
Half an hour is set aside for debate on documents presented at the commencement of sitting.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure No. 11 - Opportunities for debating documents and reports
Tabling and consideration of committee reports
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, time is available forpresenting and debating committee reports and government responses to committee reports. These generally are listed on the Red, although other reports and government responses will occasionally be presented.
Generally, reports are tabled by or on behalf of the committee chair, who would usually move a motion to take note of the report (although any senator may move that motion). Other senators may speak to the motion, for up to 10 minutes. Where there are numerous reports on any given day, the Whips' office may make informal arrangements to allocate speaking times. When that happens, precedence in debate may be given to members of the relevant committee ahead of other senators.
Government responses to committee reports may also be presented by a minister at this time, generally after reports are presented, and may be debated on the same terms.
Finally reports and responses presented out of session will be called on for debate. These will be listed on the Red.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure Nos 10 - Tabling of documents and 11 - Opportunities for debating documents and reports
Time limits
| Motion to take note (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) |
5 mins |
SO 61(3) |
| Limit for debate: 30 mins |
| Motion moved by leave |
5 mins |
SO 169(2) |
| Limit for debate: 15 mins per motion, 30 mins for all motions |
Ministerial statements
A ministerial statement is used to inform the Senate of policy or other issues relating to the minister's portfolio. Statements may be given, or simply tabled.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure Nos 10 - Tabling of documents and 11 - Opportunities for debating documents and reports
Committee memberships
Letters to the President proposing changes to committee membership are reported and the relevant motion is moved by a ministers.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure No. 14 - Committee membership
Messages
Principally from the House of Representatives relating to bills or joint committee matters.
See also Guide to Senate Procedure no. 18 - Communication between the Houses - dealing with messages
Business of the Senate (if any)
Government business
Presentation of reports and debate on motions. Business is considered in the following order:
- Matters of Privilege (if any) - proposals to refer matters to the Privileges Committee. An item will only fall into this category if the President has determined that the matter should have special priority under standing order 81
- Business of the Senate (if any) - includes disallowance motions, motions to refer matters to standing committees, presentation of committee reports (reports presented at this point are generally not available for debate)
- Government business - business initiated by a minister (principally government bills)
See also Guide to Senate Procedure No. 4 - Categories of business
By 7.20 pm
Adjournment proposed
The motion "That the Senate do now adjourn" is moved and may be debated. Senators may address any topic they choose. No time limit