Page 3394 - Week 10 - Thursday, 20 October 2022

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Human Rights and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (10.17): I seek leave to move the motion appearing on the notice paper in Minister Gentleman’s name.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the Assembly shall meet as follows for 2023 unless an absolute majority of Members request, in writing, that the Speaker or in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, or in the absence of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the Clerk, fixes an alternative day or hour of meeting or the Assembly otherwise orders:

The sitting pattern for 2023 is broadly consistent with the sitting patterns of previous years. It does add more sitting days than those originally scheduled for this year, and it balances the need for non-sitting days.

As you and other members are aware, Madam Speaker, standing committees are unable to meet when this chamber is in session. Non-sitting periods enable standing committees to undertake important work in scrutiny of the government and in assisting in the development of public policy, and this includes examination of bills, as well as investigations into various important topics. The proposed calendar also enables the usual estimates and annual reports processes, as well as time for those reports to be completed and presented.

In summary, we will sit for 13 weeks next year, for a total of 38 days. The government will continue to deliver for Canberrans through nation-leading reforms in that sitting period, making our city an even better place to live. I commend the sitting period pattern to the chamber.

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