Page:Australian Government Legislation Handbook.pdf/17



WHAT IS THE LEGISLATION PROGRAMME?

2.1 The legislation programme is a list of bills proposed for introduction in the Parliament in a sitting period.

2.2 Prior to each sitting period of the Parliament, ministers are asked to advise the Prime Minister of their legislation requirements.

2.3 The Parliamentary Business Committee of Cabinet (PBC) considers ministers' requests and determines the drafting priority for each bill on the legislation programme. The PBC may agree to requests from ministers to vary the legislation programme during a sitting period.

LEGISLATION PRIORITIES

2.4 The PBC prioritises legislation bids to ensure the appropriate allocation of drafting and parliamentary resources (including the time required to debate bills in each sitting period). The PBC has agreed that the following categories are to be used to identify the priority accorded to legislation on the programme:


 * Category T time-critical bills for introduction and passage during the one sitting period;


 * Category A bills assessed as having high priority for introduction in the sitting period;


 * Category B bills assessed as having medium priority for introduction in the sitting period; and


 * Category C bills assessed as having lower priority for introduction in the sitting period.

2.5 The category accorded each proposed bill will determine the priority for drafting by OPC. In setting the programme, the PBC will take into account the following factors:


 * (a) announced government priorities;


 * (b) political and financial significance;


 * (c) implementation dates and other timing considerations;


 * (d) regulatory aspects of each bid; and


 * (e) progress in developing policy and issuing drafting instructions.

Departments need to be realistic in the priorities they recommend that ministers seek for their bills. Legislation requirements are to be planned well in advance so that legislation is generally drafted for introduction in one sitting period for debate and passage in the next. Bills not intended for introduction until a later sitting period but which require the allocation of drafting resources can be included in the minister's bids.