Motion: Debate Be Adjourned: Government Sledge Motion

MOTION

‘DEBATE BE ADJOURNED: GOVERNMENT SLEDGE MOTION’.

Thursday, 5 February 2026.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton) (15:32):

I do wish to speak to this motion, and I would like to draw to the House’s attention that the Opposition has just been advised that the Government intends to move away from this Bill to debate a sledge motion in this Chamber and to spend an hour and a half of this Parliament’s time dealing with a sledge motion. We have just been formally advised. What a pack of grubs they are.

Colin Brooks: On a point of order, there are a number of points there, but the point of order that I raise, Acting Speaker, is that we are not yet on the question that the Member is debating, we are simply debating the adjournment of this particular item.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Alison Marchant): There is no point of order.

James NEWBURY: There is no point of order, that is right, because the Coalition has been advised of the reason why the Government wants to adjourn off this Bill. Can you believe they want to adjourn off this Bill so they can move to a sledge motion? Doesn’t that say everything about the values of this Government, to move to a sledge motion? I look forward to debating the Government’s sledge motion, because if the Government wants to come back from summer and switch on the nasty switch, I tell you what, I am going to be the first speaker on that motion and I am going to go very, very, very hard, because this Government has switched on the nasty switch. The Premier has exposed herself completely. The Premier has shown who she is. It was hidden. We knew it was there. She has come back from summer, and here she is for all to see.

We oppose moving from this Bill because we know, as the Government have formally advised us, they intend to move to a sledge motion. They have formally advised us. I am not making it up. They have advised us they want to spend an hour and a half of their time. You can understand why Government Members are excited about it. What more could they want than to go straight into the mud, the pack of grubs they are?

Colin Brooks: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, it is disorderly to reflect on other Members.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is disorderly to reflect on other members. We are on the adjournment debate. I am very happy to be here, and I am very happy to hear the Member for Brighton continue.

James NEWBURY: It is the nicest thing anyone has said to me today, Deputy Speaker. To catch you up, so to speak, on what has just occurred, the Government, as you rightly said, has just moved an adjournment motion after formally advising the Opposition they intend to spend an hour and a half of this great Parliament’s time on a sledge motion. To bookend the week, we start on a motion at the start of the week that shows the best of this Parliament, and then to end the week, what does this Government do? Attempt to move an adjournment –

Colin Brooks: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, the Member is shouting across the table. Members have microphones in this place. We do not –

James Newbury interjected.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order, although – and I am not making rulings here – I am just here, and I would appreciate that.

James NEWBURY: I will use my voice. I will not be shut down in using my voice by the Government. The Government should not be reflecting on how I use my voice. I will use my voice, and I know they are embarrassed about being called out for what they are about to do. I know why they are embarrassed, because we have gone from what is best about this place to start the week – and by the way, the lead speaker on this motion listed on the Notice Paper is the Attorney-General. I tell you what, when it goes bazooka to bazooka, I am the first speaker. I am going to be here for the Attorney, and I am going to be watching, and I am going to be rating, and I am going to be ready to speak straight thereafter. I am going to be looking forward to this one. But I can tell you, Deputy Speaker, it appalls me that we start the week with something so good about this Parliament that shows the best side of this Parliament, and then we end the week with the Government moving to the most grubby, slanderous behaviour. It says everything about this Government. I am absolutely sure the previous speaker is ashamed to have to be moving the motion because the Leader of the House is too gutless to move it herself.