7.7 Second reading speech

When the Minister (or member) in charge of the Bill moves "That the Bill be now read a second time" they immediately speak to that motion by making their second reading speech. The Minister's (or member's) second reading speech elaborates on the principles of the proposed legislation and opens up debate on the Bill. At the conclusion of the Minister's (or member's) speech, under Sessional Orders, debate on the motion is adjourned for 13 whole calendar days, unless the Bill is urgent. (The procedure for urgent Bills is discussed below).

Standing Orders provide that debate be adjourned for six days, but are currently superseded by Sessional Orders that provide for the adjournment of debate for 13 days.

The second reading speech must be ready for circulation prior to the Minister introducing the Bill. The second reading speech (or introductory speech) should cover the principles of the Bill in concise terms and not be unduly long. It should not refer to the clauses of the Bill. It is permissible for the Minister to seek to incorporate additional detailed material or the Minister's speech in Hansard, but the Speaker should first be consulted.

Departmental officers must hand deliver 165 copies of the Minister's second reading speech to the Bills and Papers Office (Room A18.1 Parliament House) in five separate sealed packages as follows:

Senior Chamber Attendant 127 copies

Hansard 3 copies + electronic copy

Press 25 copies

Minister's Room 7 copies

Hon. The Speaker 3 copies

Total: 165 copies

The electronic copy for Hansard should be supplied on three and a half inch disks in any of the following formats:

DOS, Windows, Macintosh WordPerfect, Rich Text Format;

Word 6 for Windows or Macintosh; or

Email to hansard@parliament.qld.gov.au

Each packet must be clearly labelled as follows:

URGENT and STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Bill Title ............................... Speech Notes: ........ (No. of copies)

For: Senior Chamber Attendant

Deliver to: The Bills and Papers Officer

Room A18.1, Ground Floor

Parliament House

BRISBANE

Copies of the speech are held under embargo until the Minister introduces the Bill. The copies are then circulated to Members and other recipients by parliamentary attendants. In the event of a Bill being recalled by the Minister or department concerned, all copies will be returned in their original packets unopened.

When the debate on the second reading has been concluded on a future day, the Question "That the Bill be now read a second time" is put by the Chair and, if agreed to, the Clerk reads the short title of the Bill once more.

Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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