Business Committee determinations

The Business Committee of Parliament basically schedules the business of Parliament, within Standing Orders, and has delegated authority to make decisions on various House matters. Because of that, it operates on a consensus basis – ie pretty much all parties agree.

A few interesting decisions today:

• Agreed, That the time by which the Commerce Committee must report the Regulatory Standards Bill be extended from Thursday, 28 February 2013 to Friday, 28 February 2014. – this indicates ACT’s bill is not fit to progress, but they don’t want it dumped either – playing for time.
  
• Agreed, That Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith make a valedictory statement at 5.30 pm on Wednesday, 13 February 2013. Will be worth tuning into to. Lockwood has been an MP since 1984.
• Agreed, That that the sitting on Wednesday, 17 April 2013 be extended from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm on Thursday, 18 April 2013 for consideration of business to be agreed at a future meeting of the Business Committee. Interesting that so much advance notice is being given. A long way from the days when the Opposition would only be told or urgency the day it occured.
• Agreed, That, after questions for oral answer on Thursday, 18 April 2013 a debate on Pacific issues will be held. Now, this is unusual. Not often Parliament has a debate on a specific topic not related to a bill. I wonder who put this up.

Also in case you ever wondered how they allocate the questions for oral answer, the current schedule is here. There is also a schedule for general debate speeches.