Role play script

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Serjeant-at-Arms (carrying mace over their right shoulder) and Speaker stand at the entry to the chamber

Serjeant-at-Arms (Vera Vonguard): Members, the Speaker

Serjeant-at-Arms and Speaker procession—Serjeant-at-Arms walks to the table (places mace on front of desk if there is one) and stands in front to their chair, remain standing; Speaker walks to their chair, remain standing

Speaker standing

Speaker: I acknowledge that we are meeting on the lands of the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians. I respect their continuing culture and the unique contribution they make to the life of this area. I would ask members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

Speaker sits after 5 seconds silence, all members and clerks sit

Speaker: Thank you members please sit.

Speaker: Clerk, read out the title of the Bill.

Clerk stands

Clerk: The Domestic Animals (Cat Registration) Amendment Bill.

Clerk sits

Speaker: I call on the Chief Minister Jenkins to speak.

Chief Minister stands

Chief Minister Jenkins: Thank you, Mr/Madam Speaker. The government plans to introduce compulsory cat registration for all cats living in the ACT. Registration will help in placing lost cats back with their owners and assist in encouraging early de-sexing of cats, resulting in less unwanted, dumped or feral cats.

[Insert any further prepared speech notes]

Chief Minister sits

Speaker: I call on the Minister Dracken to speak.

Minister Dracken stands

Minister Dracken: Thank you, Mr/Madam Speaker. I am pleased to discuss this bill which is based on laws by the Victorian State government that local councils have been implementing. This law has been effective in helping reunite lost cats with their owners, as well as keeping down the population of feral cats. I thank Members for their support and interest in this bill.

[Insert any further prepared speech notes]

Minister Dracken sits

Speaker: I call on the Leader of the Opposition to speak.

Leader of the Opposition stands

Leader of the Opposition: Thank you, Mr/Madam Speaker.

The Opposition will not be supporting this law. The registration of cats in the ACT will not help our wildlife as feral cats are mostly responsible for the killing of the wildlife, not peoples’ pet cats.

[Insert any further prepared speech notes]

Leader of the Opposition sits

Speaker: I call on the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to speak.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition stands

Deputy Leader of the Opposition: Thank you, Mr/Madam Speaker.

Cat registration will not be good for the ACT. It will cost more as more staff will need to be hired, registration fees will not cover this cost. I repeat we will not be supporting this bill.

[Insert any further prepared speech notes]

Deputy Leader of the Opposition sits

Speaker: I call on Leader of the Crossbench to speak.

Leader of the Crossbench stands

Leader of the Crossbench: Thank you, Mr/Madam Speaker. I will be supporting the government bill to register cats in the ACT. Registration means we will know how many cats live in the ACT and where they are located This will help the government to plan to help stop the killing of wildlife as they will know what parts of the ACT are most heavily populated by cats and can make further laws for those areas.

[Insert any further prepared speech notes]

OR

Leader of the Crossbench: Thank you, Mr/Madam Speaker. I will not be supporting the government bill, registering cats will not help our wildlife. We need to contain our cats so they don’t roam and kill wildlife. I would like the government to create a bill that keeps cats inside or in cat runs, this would be a much better idea for a bill to help our wildlife.

[Insert any further prepared speech notes]

Leader of the Crossbench sits

Speaker: Are there any further members who wish to speak on the Bill?

[Speaker to select a member who is standing up]

Members wishing to speak stand

Selected member remains standing to speak, all other members who were standing sit again

Member: Thank you, Mr/Madam Speaker.

[Student to say what they would like to say]

Member sits

[Repeat the process until all members who would like to speak have had a chance to present their case, remember everyone only gets 1 chance to speak. Once everyone has had a chance to speak the Bill moves to the vote]

Speaker: The question now is—That this bill be agreed to in principle.

Those of that opinion say “AYE” (wait for responses)

of the contrary “NO” (wait for responses).

DECLARE RESULT (decided on the voices).
I think the [AYES/NOES] have it.

Calling a division—questioning the Speaker’s ruling

Any member: The [Ayes/Noes] have it. [say the opposite of the Speaker’s ruling]

Speaker:  Division called for, ring the bells—Lock the doors.

(In the Assembly bells would be rung, members have 4 minutes to get to the Chamber if they are not already present)

Speaker: Members who say aye, please raise your hands. Clerks please count the votes.

Clerk and Deputy Clerk write number of yes votes on the division result sheet. Remember the Speaker is a government member and gets a vote, in this case would be voting yes with the government.

Speaker: Members who say no, please raise your hands. Clerks please count the votes.

Clerk and Deputy Clerk write number of no votes on the division result sheet, check that they have the same number for each vote (ayes and noes). If not you will need recount. Clerk and Deputy Clerk to give the Speaker the piece of paper telling them how many people voted yes and how many voted no. Speaker will announce the result.

Speaker: Members, the result is:

Ayes =                 votes

No =                    votes

Speaker: The Bill is [passed/not passed] by the Assembly