Parliamentary sittings to take place earlier on Wednesdays, come next year

Come next year, parliamentary plenary sessions on Wednesdays will take place from 4pm to 7pm, adjourning at 7:30pm, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne announced in parliament this evening.

Plenary sessions are usually held from 6pm to 9pm, adjourning at 9:30pm.

Today's sitting will be the last for 2017, with sessions restarting on January 15 next year, and the first early Wednesday session being planned for January 17.

Fearne said that this initiative was being done in the interest of allowing more time for MPs to spend with their families.