Orders of the Senate

Address-in-reply—Suspension of standing order 3(4)

That standing order 3(4) be suspended to enable the Senate to consider business other than that of a formal character before the address-in-reply to the Governor-General’s opening speech has been adopted.

( Agreed to 2 July 2019 )

Allocation of departments/agencies

That departments and agencies be allocated to legislative and general purpose standing committees as follows:

Community Affairs

Health

Social Services, including Services Australia

Economics

Industry, Innovation and Science

Treasury

Education and Employment

Education

Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, including Industrial Relations

Environment and Communications

Communications and the Arts

Environment and Energy

Finance and Public Administration

Finance

Parliament

Prime Minister and Cabinet

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Defence, including Veterans ’ Affairs

Foreign Affairs and Trade

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Attorney-General, excluding Industrial Relations

Home Affairs

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Agriculture

Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development.

( Agreed to 4 July 2019 )

Environment and Communications References Committee—Determination of committee chair—Standing order 25(9)

That, pursuant to standing order 25(9), the Senate determines:

(a)         that the chair of the Environment and Communications References Committee shall be elected by that committee from members nominated by minor parties or independent senators; and

(b)        that this order remain in effect until the President is duly notified of an agreement that meets the terms of standing order 25(9)(c).

( Agreed to 2 November 2011; varied 13 September 2016 )

Estimates hearings—2019-20 supplementary Budget estimates

   (1)   That the 2019-20 supplementary Budget estimates hearings be scheduled as follows:

Monday, 21 October and Tuesday, 22 October 2019 (supplementary hearings—Group A)

Wednesday, 23 October and Thursday, 24 October 2019 (supplementary hearings—Group B).

   (2)   That cross portfolio estimates hearings on Indigenous matters and on Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters be scheduled for Friday, 25 October 2019, but not restricted to that day.

   (3)   That the committees consider the proposed expenditure in accordance with the allocation of departments and agencies to committees agreed to by the Senate.

   (4)   That committees meet in the following groups:

           Group A:

Environment and Communications

Finance and Public Administration

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

           Group B:

Community Affairs

Economics

Education and Employment

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

( Agreed to 4 July 2019 )

Formal business—Suspensions of standing orders—Prohibition of debate

That, in accordance with the recommendation in the Procedure Committee’s first report of 2019, the temporary order prohibiting debate on suspension of standing order motions connected to formal business, that was in effect at the end of the 45th Parliament, be adopted on a permanent basis.

( Agreed to 4 July 2019 )

Meeting of Senate—2019

That the days of meeting of the Senate for the remainder of 2019 be as follows:

           Winter sittings:

                                Monday, 22 July to Thursday, 25 July

                                Monday, 29 July to Thursday, 1 August

           Spring sittings:

                                Monday, 9 September to Thursday, 12 September

                                Monday, 16 September to Thursday, 19 September

                                Monday, 14 October to Thursday, 17 October

                                Monday, 11 November to Thursday, 14 November

                                Monday, 25 November to Thursday, 28 November

                                Monday, 2 December to Thursday, 5 December.

( Agreed to 4 July 2019 )