Senator KEMP (Manager of Government Business in the Senate)(11.02 a.m.) —I table the following documents: particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending 30 June 1997; particulars of proposed expenditure for services in respect of the year ending 30 June 1997; and, particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending 30 June 1997. I seek leave to move a motion to refer documents just tabled, and the Advance to the Minister for Finance tabled yesterday, to the legislation committees.

Leave granted.

I move:

(1)   That the following documents be referred to legislation committees for examination and report:

   Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 1997

   Particulars of proposed expenditure for the service of the year ending on 30 June 1997

   Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 1997.

   Advance to the Minister for Finance—Statement of heads of expenditure and the amounts charged thereto pursuant to section 36A of the Audit Act 1901 —For the year ended 30 June 1996.

(2)   That the committees consider the proposed expenditure, and expenditure under the Advance to the Minister for Finance, in the legislation committee groupings agreed to on 1 May 1996.

(3)   That the committees report to the Senate on or before 9 October 1996.

(4)   That consideration of the Advance to the Minister for Finance for the year ended 30 June 1996 in committee of the whole be made an order of the day for the day on which legislation committees report on their examination of the Advance.

(5)   That, subject to the sittings of the Senate, the committees meet to hear evidence in accordance with the following schedule:

   (a)   Monday, 16 September and Wednesday, 18 September 1996:

         Community Affairs

         Employment, Education and Training

         Economics

         Finance and Public Administration; and

   (b)   Tuesday, 17 September and Thursday, 19 September 1996:

         Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts

         Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

         Legal and Constitutional

         Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

   (c)   if required, on such other days as are determined by the committees.

(6)   That the routine of business for the Senate on the days specified in paragraph (5) shall be:

   (a)   Tabling of government documents (Tuesday and Thursday only);

   (b)   Questions;

   (c)   Petitions;

   (d)   Notices of motion;

   (e)   Postponement and re-arrangement of business;

   (f)   Discovery of formal business;

   (g)   Any proposal to debate a matter of public importance or of urgency; and

   (h)   Adjournment.

(7)   That, to facilitate meetings of legislation committees to consider estimates on the days specified, the Senate shall sit on Friday, 11 October 1996 to 1 p.m.and Friday, 18 October 1996 from 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. and the routine of business shall be:

   (a)   Government business only; and

   (b)   Adjournment.

(8)   That the procedures for the adjournment specified in the sessional order of 2 February 1994 relating to the times of sitting and routine of business shall apply in respect of paragraphs 6(h) and 7(b) of this order.

Senator KEMP —I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

Senator KEMP —There have been extensive discussions regarding the timing of the estimates hearings for this particular sittings. There have been some constructive proposals put forward by various parties and the government has responded to those proposals. A great deal of work has been done this morning in trying to bed down the final dates. I think that has now happened. My understanding is that, though some people are not wildly enthusiastic about every date mentioned, there is general support for the motion before the chamber.