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Supply bills to keep government running

The coalition will seek parliament's approval for money to keep federal government services running through the election campaign.

2 min read

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Source: AAP


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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has unveiled a plan to keep money flowing to the government until the budget is passed after the election.

The program for the lower house sitting next week shows three supply bills have been slated for introduction on Monday along with a fast-tracked debate.

"These bills will ensure continuity of the normal business of government in the context of a double-dissolution election," Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told AAP on Thursday.

The budget appropriation bills will be introduced when Treasurer Scott Morrison gets to his feet on Tuesday evening, but they will not be considered by parliament until after the election.

Mr Turnbull will need to secure supply before he seeks the governor-general's approval for a double dissolution on July 2.

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The deadline for that approval is midnight on May 11.

Labor has a long-standing policy of not blocking supply.

The supply bills will contain funding for about five months of 2016/17, and no new budget measures will be included.

Labor leader Bill Shorten will deliver his budget-in-reply speech on Thursday before the prime minister visits the governor-general.

In the Senate on Monday, indigenous leader Pat Dodson will be sworn in to replace retiring Labor senator Joe Bullock.

The upper house will debate a bill to set up a new northern Australia infrastructure fund while it waits for the supply bills to pass the House of Representatives.

While the lower house sits from Monday to Thursday, the Senate will sit from Monday to Wednesday, with two days of estimates hearings on Thursday and Friday.

A sitting of both houses is scheduled for the following week.


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