Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill
Third Reading
[Advance Copy - Subject to minor change before inclusion in Bound Volume.]
NATHAN GUY (National) : National is happy to support the Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill. It is important that we get the process right—
Peter Brown: Two in a row!
NATHAN GUY: Certainly, and I look forward to Mr Dunne’s contribution on this very important legislation—
Hon Members: That is Mr Brown!
NATHAN GUY: Oh, it is too! I beg Mr Brown’s pardon—both members are of a similar vintage.
This is very important legislation because it tidies up the period—on average about 2 weeks—between polling day and declaration day. It ensures that members can travel to Parliament, and stay the night if they need to, if a caucus meeting is called over that particular period of time. It also allows existing members, who no doubt have a lease on a parliamentary office, to carry on those payments over that period of time. Some telecommunications might need to progress over that time, as well. So we are supporting this bill.
The Standing Orders Committee had no public submissions on the bill. It will tidy up the legalities that need to be tidied up. I thank the other committee members, Mr Brown being one, for their support during the select committee process. National supports this bill in its third reading.