Sessional Orders of the Legislative Assembly

Sessional orders were adopted by the House on 9 February 2011 and amended on 6 April and 29 June 2011.

1 Days and times of meeting
Unless otherwise ordered, the House will meet each Tuesday at 2.00 pm, and each Wednesday and Thursday at 9.30 am.

2 Incorporation of statements of compatibility
A statement of compatibility tabled under s 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 will be incorporated in Hansard, without leave being required.

3 Responses to adjournment matters
If the minister responsible is not present in the House to respond to issues raised by members under SO 33, the minister will provide a written response to the member who raised the matter within 30 days.

4 Condolence motions
Where a condolence motion occurs under SO 42(1)(a), the House may adjourn for a period of one hour at the conclusion of the motion.

5 Time limits on answers under SO 55
The time limit for the answer to each oral question is four minutes.

6 Content of answers
Standing Order 58(1)(a) be suspended and all answers to questions must be direct, factual, succinct and relevant.

7 Giving notice
Standing Order 140 be suspended and the following to apply:

(1) A member may only move a motion to discuss a subject if he or she has given notice of that motion on a previous sitting day.

(2) Copies of all notices, whether to be given orally or in writing, must be provided to the Clerks at the table before notices are called on by the Speaker.

(3) Oral notices must be read to the House.  They can only be given before the House proceeds to the business of the day as set out in the notice paper.

(4) All notices given by ministers must be oral.

(5) A maximum overall total of 10 general business oral notices may be given each sitting day, five from government backbenchers collectively, and five from non-government members collectively.  Non-government notices will be apportioned between members on a pro-rata basis, according to the non-government representation in the House.

(6) In addition to notices given under paragraph (5), members may give written notice by lodging a copy, identified as a written notice, with the Clerks in accordance with paragraph (2).  Members are not entitled to also give such notices orally.

(7) A motion by a member expressing no confidence in the Premier and ministers, in the terms set out in s 8A of the Constitution Act 1975, may only be given orally under paragraph (5) or, where a member seeks to move the motion during formal business by leave, and leave is refused, the member may give notice of that motion despite the provisions of paragraph (5).

(8) Except where a member has given notice under paragraph (5), the Clerk must notify the Speaker of a notice of a motion by a member to disallow a statutory rule to which SO 151 applies, and the Speaker will report details to the House at the first convenient opportunity.

8 Interruption of business for adjournment
Standing Order 32 be suspended and the following to apply:

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Speaker will interrupt the business before the House at:
(a) 10.00 pm each sitting Tuesday and Wednesday;
(b) 4.00 pm on any other sitting day.

(2) If a division is taking place when the time for the interruption arises, the division will be completed and the result announced. If the division is on a closure motion, and the motion is agreed to, the question or questions then required to be put to close the issue before the House will also be dealt with. The Speaker will then interrupt business.

(3) If the time for the interruption arises:
(a) at the same time as the completion time set by the government business program; or
(b) after the interruption for the completion time of the government business program, but before all business on the program has been dealt with -

all business on the government business program will be completed first. The Speaker will then interrupt business for the adjournment.

(4) After the interruption:
(a) before a motion for the adjournment is proposed by the Speaker, a minister may move that the sitting be continued. That motion must be put immediately without amendment or debate. If it is agreed to, the House will resume debate at the point at which it had been interrupted; or
(b) if a motion is not moved, the Speaker will immediately propose the question 'That the House now adjourns'. Any business under discussion and any other business not concluded at the time of the adjournment will be listed on the notice paper for the next sitting day. Any member speaking at the time of the interruption may, when debate resumes, continue his or her speech.

9 Time limit for lead speakers

For the purposes of Standing Order 131, and subject to any agreement to the contrary, additional time provided for the lead speaker of any other party does not apply where such a party has advised the Speaker that it is in a coalition arrangement with another party.

Last Updated on Thursday, 30 June 2011