Michael Ferguson,Leader of the House
Today the Tasmanian Government has released an updated 2020 sitting schedule for the 49th Parliament.
This outlines the changes to the spring session to incorporate additional sitting weeks, a revised date for the 2020-21 State Budget and a full budget session with budget estimates and Government Business scrutiny hearings before the end of the year.
With consideration to the COVID-19 emergency, Parliament has resolved to next return in June for four sitting days before returning again in August for regular and frequent sittings through to December.
This updated sitting schedule also reflects the Premier's announcement that the 2020-21 State Budget will be handed down on Thursday, November 12, 2020.
We are pleased that we have been able to ensure the new sitting schedule remains largely in line with the Government's original sitting intentions, with the House of Assembly sitting for only five fewer days despite the major interruption COVID-19 represented.
We have always been clear in our commitment to openness and transparency through this difficult time, including through regular media briefings, regular meetings with all parties and debates on the floor of Parliament to scrutinise the Government's decisions in relation to COVID-19.
Throughout this time, I have kept in regular contact with the representatives of the Labor party and the Greens, as well as other members of Parliament in regards to the safest and most appropriate ways to conduct sittings.
The updated 2020 sitting schedule can be found here: https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/Parliament/Combined%20Sitting%20Schedule%202020.pdf
