Motion: Government Business Program

MOTION

‘GOVERNMENT BUSINESS’.

Tuesday, 3 February 2026.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (18:46):

I think there is a time clock for a reason, Leader of the House, so that we can manage our time, and much like the Leader of the House has mismanaged her time speaking on the Government Business Program, the Government has mismanaged their time in this Chamber.

Of course, the Coalition will therefore be opposing the Government Business Program, because the Government is not able to manage the time of this Chamber.

We have seen, without reflecting, some changes in the Government Business Program between what was initially put and what we have seen. No reflection, Leader of the House, I say on record because it is worth acknowledging that of course much of today was spent on two extremely important motions that almost the whole House spoke on with heartfelt support. Though points were raised in debate, almost the entire house spoke to the importance of those motions and supported those motions, as well they should at a difficult time for our community.

The Government Business Program, as the Leader of the House acknowledged, includes two Bills this week, and without anticipating, just before the Government Business Program was moved, the Attorney-General did move a motion in relation to the scope of one of those Bills that will be dealt with throughout, presumably, tomorrow, perhaps – the Justice Legislation Further Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025. That motion, for the background of the House, without going into the substance of the debate – it is fair to note that the scope of that Bill being considered on the Government Business Program will be extended to include a matter relating to the Director of Public Prosecutions. That scope will be extended on that Bill, noting that the motion that has been presented from the House exempts everyone under 18 years old, which was not briefed out by the Government, and I note that at 6:30 at night that motion did extend the scope of that Bill. We will of course be speaking to that Bill quite strongly in terms of this matter and the rest of the Bill. I can say it is mostly a noncontroversial Bill and one that should not be otherwise controversial, but this additional matter will require some discussion in the Chamber.

The Government has also listed the Health Safeguards for People Born with Variations in Sex Characteristics Bill 2025 for consideration on the Government Business Program. As the Leader of the House said, it is an important Bill and one that we will debate in the chamber. Both of those Bills will be debated throughout the Government Business Program this week.

As I said earlier, though, we have seen today and this evening the mismanagement of time in the Chamber. At this point, just for the background of Members, I would expect that probably we will see a rising of the House or a move to adjournment around 7:45.

I know that lots of Members in the Chamber are keen to understand where we are on that. But on this Government Business Program, the Coalition is concerned and has been concerned for some time about how the House is being managed and the time that is being managed in this Chamber. We have seen over recent weeks –

Mary-Anne Thomas interjected.

James NEWBURY: I will not put the Leader of the House’s comments into Hansard because I think that even she might, on reflection, think about what was just said and realise how petty that was. The Coalition cannot support the Government Business Program while it does not have a clear plan and one that properly manages the time of this Chamber, so we will be opposing it.