Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ) (17:01): Before the Federation Chamber considers the first portfolio, I want to remind all members of the purpose of the consideration in detail stage and outline the way it is expected to proceed so that we are all on the same page. Earlier today, the House agreed to a resolution setting the order and timing for the consideration of portfolios.

Any variation to this order and timing can only be made by a motion moved by a minister. Consideration in detail is the debate, and the call will be alternated between government and non-government members, as always. Even though this debate sometimes takes the form of questions and answers, this is not question time.

Ministers and government backbench members will both be considered as speakers for the government's turn and should bear this in mind when they seek the call. Members are required to be relevant to the portfolio being examined, but there is no requirement for direct relevance to any questions asked. Given the time limits applied to each portfolio, it might be practical for ministers to respond to more than one speaker when they seek the call.

Each minister and member will have up to five minutes to speak each time they are called, but they may wish to speak for a shorter time. Ministers may wish to speak first and make an introductory statement when the debate on their portfolio begins, but that is a matter for them to decide. Members will be aware of the terms of the resolution providing dates and times, after which the questions to agree to expenditure on each portfolio will be put, if debate does not conclude earlier.

To avoid confusion, when these times are reached, a member who is speaking will be allowed to continue their remarks, but chairs are obligated to put the question immediately at the conclusion of the member's speech, and no further debate will be permitted. Finally, I want to remind advisers to members and ministers who may be in the room in the roped-off gallery places that they must only be accessed through the doors adjacent to the gallery, not through the doors reserved for members, and that they may not intrude onto the floor of the Federation Chamber at any time.

I want you all to understand this. This is exactly the same rule that operates in the other chamber. Nobody but elected members are on the floor debating at any time.

If, for some reason, an adviser needs to seek the attention of members or ministers, we won't be tolerating calling out from the sidelines. There are attendants here that you can get messages to and from, or you can go across to the gallery and talk to your advisers yourselves; that's fine. Education Portfolio Proposed expenditure, $1,444,249,000