Ms CARNEY - 2007-11-27
Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister elect, has made much of the fact that he will be choosing his own front bench, contrary to Labor convention that traditionally chooses the ministers. Was it your choice to elevate the member for Millner and the member for Sanderson to your front bench? If not, why is it that Prime Minister elect, Kevin Rudd, gets to choose his front bench, but you, as new leader, do not get to choose yours?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question and her interest in the rules of the Caucus of the Labor Party in the Northern Territory. Maybe I can have a look at the rules regarding their parliamentary wing’s procedures. Yes, we have a process where all 19 Labor members of parliament are free to put forward members to be a minister.
I totally support the election of the members for Millner and Sanderson to the front bench of the government. They are two people who have made a very solid contribution to this government in the six years since they were elected to this parliament. Both members were elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. The member for Sanderson has served this parliament well as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee which, of all of the committees of parliament, is the committee that scrutinises the detail of the government’s budget for three years …
Ms Carney: So you are backing him. You like him, you want him You really like him!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition asks the question …
Ms Carney: You cannot cope with a few interjections on your first day.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … she really should listen to the answer.
Mr Mills: Well, tell the whole story.
Ms Carney: It is so astonishing it is worthy of interjection.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Opposition members, please cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I totally support the election by my colleagues of the members for Sanderson and Millner. They both bring huge capacity to their new roles as Cabinet ministers. I am certain they will serve the Territory well.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question and her interest in the rules of the Caucus of the Labor Party in the Northern Territory. Maybe I can have a look at the rules regarding their parliamentary wing’s procedures. Yes, we have a process where all 19 Labor members of parliament are free to put forward members to be a minister.
I totally support the election of the members for Millner and Sanderson to the front bench of the government. They are two people who have made a very solid contribution to this government in the six years since they were elected to this parliament. Both members were elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. The member for Sanderson has served this parliament well as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee which, of all of the committees of parliament, is the committee that scrutinises the detail of the government’s budget for three years …
Ms Carney: So you are backing him. You like him, you want him You really like him!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition asks the question …
Ms Carney: You cannot cope with a few interjections on your first day.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr HENDERSON: … she really should listen to the answer.
Mr Mills: Well, tell the whole story.
Ms Carney: It is so astonishing it is worthy of interjection.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Opposition members, please cease interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: Madam Speaker, I totally support the election by my colleagues of the members for Sanderson and Millner. They both bring huge capacity to their new roles as Cabinet ministers. I am certain they will serve the Territory well.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016