Premier & Cabinet

Type:
Premier's Memorandum
Identifier:
M2012-06
Status:
Archived

M2012-06 Legislative Program - Spring Sittings 2012

Description

Relates only to 2012 Spring sitting of Parliament

Detailed Outline

Attachment: Legislative Program - Spring Sittings 2012 Form

2012 Government Bills Cut-Off

The Legislative Council has imposed a cut-off date of 25 October 2012 for Government Bills.

This means that no Government Bill will be able to be debated and passed in 2012 if it is introduced in the Legislative Council or received from the Legislative Assembly after 25 October 2012. The only exception will be Bills which the Council resolves to consider as 'urgent'.

Timeframes for the approval and introduction of legislation

In addition to the above, and in order to enable better management of the Government's legislative business, the following deadlines apply for legislative proposals which Ministers propose for introduction in the 2012 Spring Sittings:

  • The last date on which Cabinet Minutes seeking in-principal approval for the drafting of legislation may be lodged with the Cabinet Secretariat is Thursday, 23 August 2012.
  • Ministers are reminded of the "ten day rule" in respect of Cabinet Minutes as set out on page 17 of the Ministerial Handbook, as well as the requirement to consult with central agencies and other affected Ministers and agencies before finalising and lodging a Cabinet Minute (see page 18 of the Ministerial Handbook).
  • Agencies are to be instructed to provide Parliamentary Counsel's Office with drafting instructions as soon as possible (and in any event within no more than three working days) after Cabinet's in-principle approval.
  • The last date on which final Bills must have been drafted and approved for introduction by the Cabinet Standing Committee on Legislation (or Cabinet, where a Bill Minute is required) is Monday, 15 October 2012.

To assist in the orderly consideration and passage of Bills throughout the sitting period, Ministers are asked to bring forward legislative proposals as early as possible, and well in advance of the above deadlines.

Matters received outside of these times will not be included in the parliamentary program for the 2012 Spring Sittings, except in exceptional circumstances where a case for urgency can be made out and the formal approval of the Premier is obtained.

New legislative proposals

Ministers will recall that, at the end of 2011, they provided the Department of Premier and Cabinet with details of legislative proposals that they anticipated bringing forward for Cabinet consideration and introduction into Parliament in 2012.

I will shortly be writing to all Ministers individually, listing those of their legislative proposals that were not introduced into Parliament in the 2012 Budget Sittings. Ministers will be asked to confirm whether they still intend for the legislative proposal to proceed in the 2012 Spring Sittings.

Ministers will also be asked to identify any new legislative proposals not previously foreshadowed but which Ministers anticipate bringing forward in the 2012 Spring Sittings. A form will need to be completed for each of these new proposals, together with details of the Ministers' suggested prioritisation.

These forms should be returned to Cabinet Secretariat no later than Friday, 13 July 2012.

Any enquiries regarding the submission of legislation proposals should be directed to the Branch Manager, Cabinet Secretariat on (02) 9228 4636.

Overview

Compliance

Not Mandatory

AR Details

Date Issued
Jun 28, 2012
Review Date
Jun 28, 2022
Replaces
Replaced By

Contacts

Contact
Contact us
Phone
02 9228 5555
Publishing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Issuing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet