Temporary orders on notices and formal motions

1.1     In June 2020, the Senate adopted temporary orders limiting the number of general business motions that may be proposed as formal to one per senator per week, including a maximum of four motions per day from government, opposition and crossbench senators, respectively: 18/6/2020, J.2005-09. Those orders also placed a limit of 200 words on such motions, with exemptions, and asked the Procedure Committee to review the changes.

1.2     The committee has met to review the orders at meetings in February, March and June this year, and hopes to consult with senators on alternative arrangements early in the 2021 Spring Sittings. To that end, the committee recommends that the current temporary orders be extended until the end of the sittings on 9 August 2021.