Mr BAILEY - 1998-08-13
Recent announcements, to do with the move to statehood, identified that a number of important issues are left unresolved. What does the Leader of the Opposition believe should be done to resolve these matters?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, this is not an item on the Notice Paper, nor is it something of which you are in charge. Therefore, I am unable to accept the question.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 110 provides an ability for a member to ask any other member a question on a matter of policy that is currently before the House. This is an important issue for Territorians. It relates to statehood, and I believe it would be helpful if the opposition were allowed the courtesy to respond to this.
Mr COULTER: Madam Speaker, we forewarned the opposition that, if it was to continue this tactic, and if no questions were asked of the government and they had no questions for ministers, we would close Question Time. Obviously, members opposite have a hearing problem. They will not listen. However, that is what the government decided to do.
The Standing Orders Committee is to meet during the luncheon adjournment and I will be happy to raise the matter there, but that was the government’s position on this particular issue. That is the procedure that applies in the House of Representatives, I understand, and we will have no hesitation in doing the same here if the opposition continues with this tactic.
Mr BAILEY: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, I think you would have to differentiate between what are standing orders and what are threats by the government. They are 2 separate issues. The issue of whether the government decides that it will use its numbers in this Chamber to move motions to guillotine the activities of the parliament is a separate issue from the standing orders.
It is quite clear that standing order 110 provides an ability for questions to be put to a member. It says: ‘Questions may be put to a member’ – the Leader of the Opposition being a member, ‘not being a minister’ – she is not a minister – ‘relating to any bill, motion or other public matter’ - and I think that the issue of statehood is a public matter – ‘connected with the business of the Assembly, of which the member has charge’. Quite clearly, the Leader of the Opposition is the member who has charge of the opposition position in relation to the statehood issue which is clearly before us at the moment.
Mr Coulter: She does not have charge.
Mr BAILEY: If government members are not prepared, in Question Time, to listen to what the opposition position is, then I am not sure that the public, listening on radio, are curious as to why this government does not want to hear what the opposition position is here. I would have to say also that this issue was started by the government asking the opposition a question. That was where the process started because the government acknowledged the right of the opposition to answer questions. Standing order 110 makes it clear that other members may asked questions.
Madam SPEAKER: My ruling is that the question is disallowed, first, because the issue is not on the Notice Paper and, secondly, the Leader of the Opposition does not have charge of statehood.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, this is not an item on the Notice Paper, nor is it something of which you are in charge. Therefore, I am unable to accept the question.
Mrs HICKEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing order 110 provides an ability for a member to ask any other member a question on a matter of policy that is currently before the House. This is an important issue for Territorians. It relates to statehood, and I believe it would be helpful if the opposition were allowed the courtesy to respond to this.
Mr COULTER: Madam Speaker, we forewarned the opposition that, if it was to continue this tactic, and if no questions were asked of the government and they had no questions for ministers, we would close Question Time. Obviously, members opposite have a hearing problem. They will not listen. However, that is what the government decided to do.
The Standing Orders Committee is to meet during the luncheon adjournment and I will be happy to raise the matter there, but that was the government’s position on this particular issue. That is the procedure that applies in the House of Representatives, I understand, and we will have no hesitation in doing the same here if the opposition continues with this tactic.
Mr BAILEY: Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, I think you would have to differentiate between what are standing orders and what are threats by the government. They are 2 separate issues. The issue of whether the government decides that it will use its numbers in this Chamber to move motions to guillotine the activities of the parliament is a separate issue from the standing orders.
It is quite clear that standing order 110 provides an ability for questions to be put to a member. It says: ‘Questions may be put to a member’ – the Leader of the Opposition being a member, ‘not being a minister’ – she is not a minister – ‘relating to any bill, motion or other public matter’ - and I think that the issue of statehood is a public matter – ‘connected with the business of the Assembly, of which the member has charge’. Quite clearly, the Leader of the Opposition is the member who has charge of the opposition position in relation to the statehood issue which is clearly before us at the moment.
Mr Coulter: She does not have charge.
Mr BAILEY: If government members are not prepared, in Question Time, to listen to what the opposition position is, then I am not sure that the public, listening on radio, are curious as to why this government does not want to hear what the opposition position is here. I would have to say also that this issue was started by the government asking the opposition a question. That was where the process started because the government acknowledged the right of the opposition to answer questions. Standing order 110 makes it clear that other members may asked questions.
Madam SPEAKER: My ruling is that the question is disallowed, first, because the issue is not on the Notice Paper and, secondly, the Leader of the Opposition does not have charge of statehood.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016