Labor rams through bills before Christmas
David Pocock should have held out longer, Jacqui Lambie told Sky News. Photo: AAP
A week after the Black Friday sales, the government will have its own clearout as it rams through the last of its legislation before Christmas.
Labor secured the votes of the Greens and independents David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie to get through its agenda and force a vote on its remaining bills before MPs go home for the year.
Two extra sitting days have been scheduled to deal with the volume of bills, and the government has amended its own “family-friendly” sitting hours to allow votes later into the night.
Senator Pocock also secured an agreement to have territories’ rights legislation voted on by the end of next week.
If passed, the ACT and Northern Territory will be allowed to create laws relating to euthanasia.
The ACT senator has frequently given up his speaking time in the Senate to bring the bill on for debate.
Any listed legislation yet to be voted on by 2pm this Friday will be instantly put to a vote without debate.
The legislation includes cheaper child care, the emergency response fund and the high speed rail authority as well as a range of climate and budgetary bills.
It’s likely the program will be amended further to include the government’s signature industrial relations and national anti-corruption commission bills.
Negotiations are continuing with the crossbench, with the government pushing to have both legislated by Christmas.
-AAP