Page 5674 - Week 15 - Thursday, 10 December 2009

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As members would be aware, I circulated a proposed sitting calendar for the 2010 year to members at the end of October and I sought comment from members in relation to the proposed sitting calendar. I received some comments from Mr Rattenbury as the Speaker. I would like to thank Mr Speaker for his comments. As a result of his comments, particularly his concern about the absence of the Clerk, or the Acting Clerk, during a period in September, in particular in the proposed sitting week 14 to 16 September, I have modified the calendar from that which was circulated to include, instead, a sitting week on 21 to 23 September.

I note that the Liberal Party did not respond to me until 5 pm this Tuesday, in which instance they simply indicated they would be moving a motion to provide for an additional two sitting weeks. At no time have the Liberal Party indicated to me their reasons for that decision. I can only presume that it is the standard tactic that occurs every December now from the Liberal Party, which is to try and prove that theirs is bigger than ours and they have a stronger work ethic than everybody else in this place. I am sure that we are going to hear such sentiments very shortly from Mrs Dunne and others. All I would say is that the sitting calendar has been extensively consulted on and the only party that has failed to take up that offer in any good faith has been the Liberal opposition.

The sitting calendar reflects the requirements to take into account public holidays, school holiday periods, times when there are Council of Australian Government meetings, ministerial meetings, CPA events and a range of other matters. As a result, the sitting calendar is for a 14-week sitting period, the same as this year and, in fact, very similar to many previous years. I thank those members who have engaged, in good faith, in developing the sitting calendar for the year. I commend the motion to members.

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (12.15), by leave: I move the amendments circulated in my name:

“(1) after March, insert:

2 3 4; and

(2) after November 18, insert:

23 24 25.”.

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