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Ch14 Control and conduct of debate / CURTAILMENT OF SPEECHES AND DEBATE / Curtailment of speeches / Extension of time



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House of Representatives                                Ch 14                                                 p 513

 

Control and conduct of debate / CURTAILMENT OF SPEECHES AND DEBATE / Curtailment of speeches

 

Extension of time

It is not unusual before or during important debates for the standing orders to be suspended to grant extended or unlimited time to Ministers and leading Members of the Opposition. 1 Sometimes in these circumstances a simple motion for extension of time may be more suitable.

After the maximum period allowed for a Member’s speech has expired the standing order provides that, with the consent of the majority of the House or Main Committee, the Member may be allowed to continue a speech for one period not exceeding 10 minutes, provided that no extension shall exceed half of the original period allotted. 2 The motion that a Member’s time be extended may be moved without notice by the Member concerned or by another Member, and must be put immediately and resolved without amendment. 3 An extension of time for a specified period, less than the time provided by the standing order, has been granted on a motion moved by leave. 4 It has been held that the granting of a second extension requires the suspension of the standing order, 5 but the House has granted leave for a Member to continue his speech in this circumstance. 6 The Main Committee cannot suspend standing orders but the Committee may grant leave for the time of a speech to be extended. A Member cannot be granted an extension on the question for the adjournment of the House. 7 If there is a division on the question that a Member’s time be extended, the extension of time is calculated from the time the Member is called by the Chair. 8 Where a Member’s time expires during the counting of a quorum, after a quorum has been formed a motion may be moved to grant the Member an extension of time. 9 Where a Member’s time has expired during more protracted proceedings, standing orders have been suspended, by leave, to grant additional time. 10

Despite Selection Committee determinations in relation to private Members’ business, Members have spoken again, by leave, 11 or spoken by leave after the time allocated for the debate had expired. 12 Similarly, despite Selection Committee determinations on times for the consideration of committee and delegation reports, extensions of time have been granted to Members speaking on these items 13 and Members have also been given leave to speak again.



VP 1978-80/1602, 1690; VP 1993-95/2686.



S.O. 1.



S.O. 78(a).



VP 1976-77/26.



VP 1970-72/242.



VP 1970-72/634.



S.O. 1.



H.R. Deb. (9.11.33) 4356.



VP 1985-87/1726, H.R. Deb. (3.6.87) 3909.



VP 1993-95/2347



VP 1993-95/1258.



VP 1993-95/1617.



VP 1993-95/1343.