Tony Abbott ready to set up house as Parliament returns Setting up shop: Tony Abbott. Legislation to scrap Labor's unpopular carbon tax will be the top order of business when Federal Parliament sits this week for the first time since the September 7 poll. But there will be plenty happening behind the scenes as well, with a slew of prestigious committee chairmanships up for grabs, and a potentially divisive scrap for the position of deputy speaker. At 65 days since the election, the inaugural four-week session has been a long time coming. Lifting the debt ceiling: Treasurer Joe Hockey. The performance of the incoming Speaker, NSW Liberal firebrand Bronwyn Bishop, as parliamentary umpire will be one of the more critical elements in setting the tone of the new Parliament. That tone is likely to be different from the previous Parliament, with fewer suspensions of question time to make way for fiery oratory, thanks to the new government having the numbers to "gag" debate. The first sitting will offer voters a chance to asses the alternative prime minister, Bill Shorten, who has shot up the ranks from rookie MP to Labor leader in just over two terms in Canberra. "Now that the government is effectively closed to the media, question time will be more important in calling ministers to account": Tony Burke. The eight-bill carbon repeal package will be introduced to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the first day of normal parliamentary business after Tuesday's largely ceremonial opening. However, passage of the legislation is anything but assured, with Labor and the Greens set to use their combined majority to knock out the bills when they head to the Senate. The Coalition has indicated the carbon tax repeal bills will be followed in short order by more repeal legislation to abolish the minerals resource rent tax. That, in turn, will require legislation to scrap a raft of measures that were to be funded by the underperforming tax, from the schoolchildren's bonus and low-income superannuation contribution to tax breaks for small businesses. Also expected to appear on the government's to-do list before Parliament rises on December 12 is Treasurer Joe Hockey's extraordinary escalation of the debt ceiling by $200 billion to $500 billion, and legislation to re-establish the building and construction industry watchdog. Another priority is an ambitious Abbott agenda of red and green tape removal to be led by his Parliamentary Secretary, Josh Frydenberg. The Victorian MP has been handed the unenviable task of finding $1 billion in annual savings from reducing regulations said to be tying up business. The manager of opposition business in the house, Tony Burke, hinted that Labor planned to exploit some of the percussive tactics pioneered by Mr Abbott from opposition. "Now that the government is effectively closed to the media, question time will be more important in calling ministers to account," Mr Burke said. That's not something we'd throw away. A Liberal MP revealed the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring had been vigorous among ambitious MPs who had missed out on a ministry but were hopeful of a committee chair to salvage some pride and the extra pay. He predicted disgruntled Liberals might become a little harder to manage once the final plums of office had been distributed.