Mr HOCKEY (9:21 AM) —Hopefully, this puts an end to the farcical Fridays that the government initiated. I remind the Leader of the House that his Prime Minister said that, if parliament did not sit five days a week, parliamentarians were lazy. Then the Prime Minister himself did not turn up on the fifth day—to use a Smithian comment. We received these changes to the standing order at 7.30 this morning. I had a phone conversation—

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I ask that the Manager of Opposition Business withdraw that. It was tabled in the parliament last night, as I said I would do.

The SPEAKER —Order! The Leader of the House will resume his seat.

Mr HOCKEY —I am sorry, but that is actually wrong. The Notice Paper came out at 7.30 this morning. The blue comes out at around 7.45 am. We have not had any opportunity to peruse the new standing orders or sitting patterns of this chamber. Importantly, in relation to the order of business—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Mr HOCKEY —Well, you go ahead and do that. If you look at the Notice Paper now, you cannot even tell what the sitting days are in the new sitting schedule for 2008. It is not a colour printout. We do not know what the hell the sitting days are for the year ahead, yet the Leader of the House in this place expects members of parliament to vote in support of the new standing orders, which we did not see until 7.30 this morning.

Mr Albanese —Mr Speaker, if it would assist the Manager of Opposition Business, I would be prepared to move that the debate be adjourned and that he be given permission to continue—

The SPEAKER —Order! The Leader of the House knows that is not—

Mr Albanese —I am trying to help. Do you want it or not?

Mr Schultz —This is just sanctimonious, pompous, hypocritical—

Mr Albanese —I am actually helping you, you goose. Fair dinkum!

The SPEAKER —Order! The member for Hume is not helping, and I ask that he withdraw in the context that it is not helping. I ask that the member for Hume withdraw that remark.

Mr Schultz —I withdraw.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop —Go on, spit the dummy!

The SPEAKER —Order! The Leader of the House and the member for Mackellar.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop —Go on, spit the dummy!

The SPEAKER —The member for Mackellar is denying the member for North Sydney the call.

Mr HOCKEY —Just to continue, as the Manager of Opposition Business, I would like the opportunity, in consultation with my members, to be able to peruse the proposed standing orders and to peruse the proposed sitting pattern for 2008. Accordingly, I seek leave to continue my remarks at a later hour.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.