Prime Minister Matthew Wale will attend his first parliamentary sitting since taking office when the Fourth Meeting of the First Session of the 11th Parliament convenes on Tuesday, 4 August.
The sitting will mark the first full meeting of Parliament under the GREAT Coalition Government following the change of government in May and comes after the Third Meeting was adjourned sine die late last year.
Clerk to Parliament Jefferson Hallu confirmed that written notice was issued to all Members of Parliament earlier this week, satisfying the 13-day notice requirement under the Standing Orders of the National Parliament.
The opening sitting will begin with an address by the Governor-General, delivered at the invitation of Prime Minister Wale, outlining the GREAT Government’s legislative agenda and priorities for the new administration.
Following the Governor-General’s address, Members of Parliament will debate a Motion in Reply, giving MPs the opportunity to respond to and scrutinise the Government’s proposed legislative programme before a formal resolution is conveyed to the Governor-General.
Parliament will also elect a new Deputy Speaker during the opening week after the position became vacant when the former Deputy Speaker was appointed to Cabinet as a Minister of the Crown.
Apart from these opening proceedings and the election, no substantive Government business has yet been listed for the first week of the meeting.
Hallu said several Bills, motions and other parliamentary business remain on the Order Paper from before the change of government.
“Those matters will be dealt with in due course, although some Bills may be withdrawn and reintroduced if the Wale Government decides to pursue a different legislative approach,” Hallu explained.
He also indicated that Parliament is likely to adjourn on a special adjournment shortly after the opening proceedings to allow the Government to introduce its Supplementary Appropriation Bill or Bills.
The adjournment would also provide the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with sufficient time to examine the supplementary budget and present its report before Parliament resumes debate.
The August sitting is expected to set the legislative direction for the Wale Government, with additional Government business to be announced as it becomes ready for Parliament.
