[Peetwo]

Mandarin Memo - All leave is now cancelled

A basic explanation (from the Senate website) to what occurred yesterday in the life and times of the 44th Parliament..

A new session of Parliament


On 21 March 2016, on advice from the Prime Minster, the Governor-General issued a proclamation under section 5 of the Constitution:

• proroguing the Parliament from 5pm on 15 April 2016, and
  
• appointing 9.30 am on 18 April as the day and time for the Parliament to meet for a new session.
  
  

This will be the second session of the 44th Parliament, and will be opened by the Governor-General in accordance with standing orders 1(2) and 2.
 
To prorogue Parliament means to bring an end to a session without necessarily dissolving the House of Representatives or both Houses. It has the effect of terminating the list of business before either House. In 1993 the Government restored the practice, not followed since the 1920s, of proroguing the Parliament before dissolving the House of Representatives for the purpose of a general election. The last time the Parliament was prorogued other than for a general election was in 1977.
 
The Senate’s standing orders provide for the work of its committees to continue despite any prorogation of the Parliament.
 
Further reading:

• Documents relating to the prorogation of the Parliament on 15 April 2016
  
• Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice, chapter 7
  

Hmm..wonder if that means all QON & Estimates business has now officially been compressed at least 1 week
Bit unsettling when all the Mandarins and their Minions have booked up golf at the Royal Canberra from now until beyond the next financial year - oh, how my heart bleeds   
MTF...P2