Thursday, 4 December 2025

The SPEAKER: The bill will now be sent to the Legislative Council and their agreement requested.

Business interrupted under sessional orders.

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services) (17:01): I move:

That the sitting be continued.

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (17:01): Three minutes ago the Leader of the House sent a text message to say that the house would not be adjourning at the usual time. There has been no reasoning given to the house. A number of members from the other side said to me on their way into the chamber that they did not know we were extending either. We are currently considering again a shambles of this chamber. What is the reason? The Leader of the House had an opportunity to stand up and say we are extending because we are going to deal with – well, we do not know, because the Leader of the House did not do it. It would be only reasonable for the Leader of the House to explain –

Mary-Anne Thomas interjected.

James NEWBURY: Leader of the House, I do not think you ever have to wonder who goes to bed later at night.

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, you will direct your comments through the Chair.

James NEWBURY: It is only reasonable. If you are managing a chamber with any semblance of cohesion, any semblance of capacity, you would explain to the chamber. As I look around the chamber I do not think I can see anybody who knows what the Leader of the House is doing. It appears to me that even the government members do not know what the Leader of the House is doing. What is the government doing? We do not know. We do not know, so I would say to the house that it is not unreasonable to ask why. We have seen week after week the government put extra days into the sitting pattern. I love an extra sitting day; don’t you worry. I love an extra sitting day. I love every extra sitting minute, but if you organised a chamber with any semblance of organisation, you would explain why. You would explain why, wouldn’t you, Deputy Speaker? Do you know, Deputy Speaker?

Members interjecting.

James NEWBURY: You knew. Okay, two people –

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, I will warn you one more time that your comments must be directed through the Chair, not across the table.

James NEWBURY: I appreciate that, but it was a two-way conversation.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Brighton, it is not appropriate to contradict what I say. I ask you to make your comments through the Chair.

James NEWBURY: I understand from the government that there are two people who understand why the house is continuing. It is only reasonable I think and frankly courteous for the government, after I have spoken, to stand up and explain why the house is continuing. What are we sitting for?

A member interjected.

James NEWBURY: Announced where? Announced where, I ask. Where? Where, I ask.

The SPEAKER: Before I return to what I need to say, this has come to my attention just now from the Clerk:

After an interruption, continue with the sitting of the house. 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.

My apologies, member for Brighton. Unfortunately, I was given incorrect advice.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, I understand the advice that you have just read to the house, but my recollection of the events as they occurred was it was done backwards – that is, you interrupted for the adjournment and then the minister –

The SPEAKER: Member for Brighton, I did not call the adjournment. That was standing order ‍32(3)(a).

Motion agreed to.