Urgency

The new Parliament has spent most of its existence under urgency. What is that, and why use it?  Audio

The new Parliament has spent much of its time so far, debating under urgency. What is that, and why has it? Audio

Parliament this week may agree to act speedily on a cyclone response bill, rather than invoke urgency. Doing so will allow some select committee time on the issue, and even a Member's Day. Audio

The holidays may be coming, but Parliament is winding up for looks likely to be its biggest week of the year. Audio

The Speaker is the guardian, champion and referee of parliamentary process, but he also coaches the foot soldiers in the arts of battle - individually or en masse. Audio

By design there is a gulf between parliaments and governments. It is most obvious when government asks Parliament to go faster.  Audio

Most weeks at Parliament are reasonably predictable, this week might need a flow diagram. There's a morning sitting, a members' day and urgency. Audio

After a Budget announcement MPs tend to stay on for a long session of urgent Budget-bill debates. This year they wrapped it up pretty fast.  Audio

MPs have worked on Covid-19 related bills under urgency shortening a process from months to hours. Audio

Parliament can be sluggish. It’s actually designed that way. But sometimes it turns on the after-burners and gets the wind in its hair as it debates.  Audio

Occasionally the House needs to do something quickly and this week it needed to help keep track of cattle.  Audio

Each sitting day in the House MPs work through business which is set out on the order paper. Here's what they’ll try to get through this week Audio