Chapter 2 Refinements to improve the efficiency of proceedings

Introduction

2.1                   In its first report for the inquiry into ‘Monitoring and review of procedural changes implemented in the 43^rd Parliament’, the Committee noted a number of possible refinements to standing orders to address issues that arose during the implementation of those procedural reforms. The Committee recommended:

… 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.[1]

2.2                   The Government Response supported this and stated:

Amendments to Standing Orders moved by the Government and agreed to by the House on the 8 February 2012 represent the implementation of the recommendation.[2]

2.3                   However, the amendments to the standing orders introduced in February 2012 did not satisfactorily address all the issues encompassed by the recommendation. While those amendments did deal with the renaming of the Main Committee (to become known as the Federation Chamber), they did not address the other points. 

2.4                   Consequently the Committee restated many of these issues in its most recent report on the procedural reforms and reiterated its support for the ongoing fine-tuning of the standing orders to improve the efficiency of House proceedings.[3]

2.5                   Four areas in particular could be more efficient:

n  the referral of private Members’ business items to the Federation Chamber and their return to the Chamber;

n  presentation of private Members’ bills;

n  speaking times for debates ‘not otherwise provided for’; and

n  the appointment of supplementary Members to House committees.

2.6                   In this chapter, the Committee examines these areas and recommends amendments to enhance the relevant procedures.

Private Members’ business items in the Federation Chamber

Referral of private Members’ business items to the Federation Chamber

2.7                   In his submission to the Committee’s inquiry into the procedural reforms in the 43^rd Parliament, the Clerk suggested that procedural efficiency could be improved regarding the scheduling and referral of private Members’ items to the Federation Chamber.[4] 

2.8                   At present, the Selection Committee determines which private Members’ bills and motions (and committee and delegation reports) will be considered in the Federation Chamber. After the Selection Committee report is presented to the House, the Speaker, on the following Monday, formally presents the terms of the private Members’ business items (and occasionally committee and delegation reports) in the House. Debate is then referred automatically to the Federation Chamber.[5] This practice reflects the principle that business items should not originate in the Federation Chamber, but must be referred by the House.

2.9                   The Clerk suggested that a refinement to the standing orders would provide that when the Selection Committee schedules items for consideration in the Federation Chamber (and the House adopts the Selection Committee report) the items are deemed to have been referred to the Federation Chamber by the House. This would streamline the process and remove ‘double handling’:

This would obviate the need for the Speaker to table the terms of matters in the House and for the matters to be deemed to be presented or moved before they can stand referred to the [Federation Chamber]. It would also allow the Member responsible for a notice to initiate a matter in the [Federation Chamber] by presenting a bill or moving a motion.[6]

2.10               The Committee acknowledges that amending the standing orders to facilitate this change will reduce paperwork and increase the efficiency of the Chamber.

2.11               The following recommendations are expressed in general terms for ease of reference. They should be read in conjunction with the draft amendments at Appendix A (pages 28-40).

Return of items from the Federation Chamber

2.13               Likewise, the Clerk suggested in his submission to the inquiry into procedural reforms that the return of items from the Federation Chamber could be simplified. Currently, the return of private Members’ business items from the Federation Chamber is achieved by a formal report by the Speaker or a motion moved in the House.

2.14               The Clerk suggested that a ‘simpler alternative would be to have a Member move, in the [Federation Chamber] that further proceedings be conducted in the House’ under standing order 197(a).[7] Those items would then be listed on the Notice Paper under business before the House. The items could then be called on, for example, if standing orders were suspended to enable them to be voted on during government business time in the House, rather than first moving for their return.

2.15               The Committee understands that this change could be achieved as a matter of practice without any need to amend the standing orders.

Presentation of private Members’ bills

2.17               At present, private Members may make a 10 minute ‘statement’ on presentation of a bill they sponsor. If the Selection Committee then selects the bill for debate at the second reading stage (as is currently the general practice), sponsoring Members will also be allocated time to move the second reading at a later stage. In that case, a Member must make a second reading speech (maximum time limit of 30 minutes), opening up the potential for duplication and inefficient use of time.

2.18               The Clerk proposed in his submission to the inquiry into procedural reforms that the process for the presentation of private Members’ bills could follow that for Government legislation. He suggested that the Committee may wish to consider whether:

… private Members presenting bills should be able to move the second reading at the time of presentation, instead of making a statement and debate then being adjourned. This would mirror the practice that applies to government bills.[8]

2.19               The Committee agrees that, in the interests of efficiency, the procedure for presenting private Members’ bills should be brought into line with that for presenting Government bills. The Committee recommends that Members be allocated 10 minutes for a second reading speech instead of the current 10 minutes for a presentation statement. If required, a Member could speak in continuation for a further 5 minutes when the debate is resumed.

2.20               The draft amendment proposed (see Appendix A, page 28) also simplifies time limits for the whole second reading debate of private Members’ bills by providing that all Members (except the mover) may speak for 15 minutes or lesser time determined by the Selection Committee. This would reduce the default time limits for certain Members. However, in practice the Selection Committee typically sets speaking times for debate on private Members’ bills.[9]

Time limits for debates ‘not otherwise provided for’

2.22               Another suggestion by the Clerk to the review of procedural reforms, related to time limits for debates ‘not otherwise provided for’ in standing order 1.[10] The Clerk suggested that standing order 1 be amended in relation to these debates, reducing the time limit to 15 minutes (from 20) for the mover and to 10 minutes (from 15) for other Members.[11]  

2.23               At the beginning of the 43^rd Parliament, the House amended the standing orders to reduce the time limit for most second reading speeches from 20 minutes to 15. This appears to have worked well and improved efficiency.

2.24               The Committee notes the improvement that the reduction in time limits for second reading speeches has provided to the working of the House and recommends that a similar reduction be made in the time limits for debates ‘not otherwise provided for’.

Appointment of supplementary members to House committees

2.26               The Committee received informal feedback during its inquiry into the procedural reforms which indicated some confusion may have arisen over the appointment of supplementary Members to House Committees.[12] The provision for supplementary Members was strengthened in the 43^rd Parliament to provide greater opportunities for Members to serve on committees conducting inquiries of particular interest to them.[13]

2.27               Currently standing order 215(d) states that each committee ‘may supplement its membership’ and standing order 229(c) refers to ‘the power of a general purpose standing committee to supplement its membership’. Supplementary Members of House Committees are appointed, like all committee Members, by resolution of the House. The Committee recommends the wording of both standing orders be amended to avoid any possible impression that committees may appoint their supplementary Members.