Paul Murphy objects to 90-minute limit on Occupied Territories Bill
Paul Murphy objects to the allocation of only 90 minutes for the Occupied Territories Bill, arguing that the time limit would prevent proper scrutiny. He warns that restricting debate now will block several other bills scheduled this week.
Paul Murphy spoke in the chamber to formally object to giving only 90 minutes to the Occupied Territories Bill. He said both parties pledged support for the bill during the general election and accused them of now trying to gut its contents by curtailing debate.
Murphy told colleagues that there have been five separate requests from opposition whips to extend time and that the government’s scheduling choice appears intended to avoid exposure of the issues raised in the bill. He framed the time allocation as a procedural barrier to democratic scrutiny of the Occupied Territories Bill and the related policy questions it raises.
Murphy listed multiple pieces of legislation that would be affected if the chamber concedes the time limit: the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Bill 2026, the Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill to support postmasters, the Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill, the Planning and Development Bill, and a bill on contraception prescribing services in retail pharmacy businesses.
He concluded by acknowledging the importance of other issues raised in the day’s business but stressed that his group had prioritised legislation this week and that insufficient time for debate undermines parliamentary accountability. The remarks focus attention on parliamentary procedure, time allocation, and the potential postponement of bills affecting housing, postal services, planning and health provision.
What happened
Paul Murphy spoke in the chamber to formally object to giving only 90 minutes to the Occupied Territories Bill. He said both parties pledged support for the bill during the general election and accused them of now trying to gut its contents by curtailing debate.
Claims and context
Murphy told colleagues that there have been five separate requests from opposition whips to extend time and that the government’s scheduling choice appears intended to avoid exposure of the issues raised in the bill. He framed the time allocation as a procedural barrier to democratic scrutiny of the Occupied Territories Bill and the related policy questions it raises.
Legislative impact
Murphy listed multiple pieces of legislation that would be affected if the chamber concedes the time limit: the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Bill 2026, the Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill to support postmasters, the Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill, the Planning and Development Bill, and a bill on contraception prescribing services in retail pharmacy businesses.
Priorities and consequences
He concluded by acknowledging the importance of other issues raised in the day’s business but stressed that his group had prioritised legislation this week and that insufficient time for debate undermines parliamentary accountability. The remarks focus attention on parliamentary procedure, time allocation, and the potential postponement of bills affecting housing, postal services, planning and health provision.
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Transcript
I want to object to giving only 90 minutes to the Occupied Territories Bill. This is a bill that both parties said during the general election they would support and yet are now trying to absolutely gut. You don't want time to discuss it because you don't want that to be exposed. There have been five different requests today from the opposition whips. So if we were to do that, we wouldn't be able to bring forward the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Bill 2026, or the Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill to support postmasters, or the Housing and Residential Tenancies Bill, the Planning and Development Bill, and also the bill on Thursday for the health provision of contraception prescribing services in retail pharmacy businesses. Notwithstanding the fact that everything you have raised is important, we have prioritised legislation this week.