5.2 Notice of motion

Notice is a means available of showing an intention to do something on a particular day. An advantage of giving notice is that interested people or groups and other Members are made aware of the motion and therefore have time to consider its implications.

When notice is given by a Member certain procedures are required to be fulfilled. A Member must read out the notice and then deliver it to the Clerk, fairly written or printed, with their name and the day it is to be debated. Usually, Notices of Motion state that "Tomorrow I shall move". This does not mean that the motion will in actual fact be moved and debated the following day, it simply means a day in the future.

Government Notices of Motion are generally moved on the sitting day that they are set down for - usually the next sitting day following the giving of notice. Private Members' notices appear under General Business on the Notice Paper, and usually, because few private notices are debated, remain on the Notice Paper, and eventually lapse. However, in recent years there has been a practice of reserving one hour each sitting afternoon to debate a motion moved by non - Government Members. Notice of the motion to be debated is given in the morning, usually at about 10.00 am.

Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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