Appendix A – Procedure Committee recommendations in the 43^rd Parliament

Interim Report: Monitoring and review of procedural changes implemented in the 43rd Parliament (presented 13 May 2011)

Recommendation 1 (para 3.27)

The Committee recommends that the Selection Committee be encouraged to implement the ‘General principles relating to the selection of private Members’ business’ and exercise the flexibility that is available to it pursuant to standing order 222 and the principles, particularly in relation to the length of debates and speaking times allocated.

Recommendation 2 (para 3.30)

The Committee recommends that the House take up the Selection Committee’s recommendation that it consider adopting the ‘General principles relating to the selection of private Members’ business’ (contained in Report No. 3 of the Selection Committee of 21 October 2010).

Recommendation 3 (para 5.24)

The Committee recommends that the House considers measures to manage the workload of Members during sitting weeks, having regard to the health and wellbeing of Members, their staff and parliamentary staff, including but not limited to:

a) commencing at 12.00 noon on Mondays in the House and 12.30 pm in the Main Committee;

b) commencing at 12.00 noon on Tuesdays in the House;

c) offsetting the reduction in sitting hours resulting from a) and b) by reducing the time allocated to private Members’ business each week by three hours;

d) providing that divisions called for after 8.30 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays be deferred until the following day; and

e) reducing the time allocated for adjournment debate by half an hour on one evening.

Recommendation 4 (para 5.55)

The Committee recommends that draft amendments to standing orders which enhance the operations of the House and correct oversights and inconsistencies be prepared and proposed for consideration by the House.

Interim Report no. 2: Monitoring and review of procedural changes implemented in the 43rd Parliament—Referral of bills to committees by the House Selection Committee (presented 4 July 2011)

Recommendation 1 (para 1.31)

The Committee recommends that standing order 222(a)(iii) be amended to remove the provision that one member of the Selection Committee is sufficient to select a bill for referral to a House or joint committee for advisory report—thereby requiring a majority decision of the Committee—and to require that the Committee provide reasons for the referral of bills to committees.