Mr REITH (Workplace Relations and Small Business) (5:33 PM) —I move:

That, with effect from 11 May 1999, standing order 275A be amended to read

Statements by Members

275A Notwithstanding standing order 275, when the Main Committee meets before 10 a.m. the Chair shall first call statements by Members. A Member, other than a Minister, may be called by the Chair to make a statement for a period not exceeding 3 minutes. The period for Members' statements may continue for a maximum of 18 minutes or until 10 a.m. whichever is the earlier. For the purpose of this standing order a Minister does not include a Parliamentary Secretary.

I do not intend to delay the House for more than a moment. The change which we are proposing today provides for two very simple changes to House standing order 275A. They are essentially to extend the three-minute members' statements which currently occur at 9.40 on Thursday mornings to Wednesday mornings as well and to allow parliamentary secretaries an opportunity to speak in members' statements—an opportunity which is currently denied them by the standing orders.

In December 1997 we introduced sessional orders providing for three-minute members' statements on Thursdays and an adjournment debate in the Main Committee. The trials of both were successful and last year, in the middle of the year, we placed them in the standing orders. The continuing usefulness of that new system prompts us to the changes we are proposing today. I make the point that members' statements only take place when the Main Committee is sitting. It sits when there is business with which it must deal. When it does not have business then it does not sit, and that is the practice today, as it has been since its introduction.

This will simply provide an opportunity for parliamentary secretaries to make members' statements. It will allow them by and large to address constituency matters and provides a forum for them. To ensure that there is no diminution in the time available for private members, we are proposing the additional time on the extra day a week. So I think that is a fair balance and it does provide for those members an opportunity to carry out their representative duties. I hope that it has the support of the House. I commend the motion to the House.