Mr MILLS - 2004-02-25
As a matter of policy, if a minister in your government supervised an unlawful and illegal process, and brought about unnecessary and substantial costs to landowners, would you sack that person …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 112 - this is an entirely hypothetical issue and it should be ruled out of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, it does say questions should not contain hypothetical matter. Leader of the Opposition, could you rephrase your question?
Mr MILLS: It is simply a matter of a question regarding the Chief Minister’s policy.
Madam SPEAKER: All right, then ask it in that way.
Mr MILLS: That is the way I asked it. Obviously, there is difficulty in hearing the way this question is actually being asked for reasons that those who would be listening would completely understand.
Chief Minister, as a matter of policy, if a minister in your government supervised an unlawful or illegal process, and brought about unnecessary and substantial costs to landowners, would you sack that person from your Cabinet - in this case, the member for Casuarina - and why haven’t you?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is the most absurd question that we have ever had in this House. It is absurd! You are asserting – no, you are not asserting, you are saying, hypothetically – if something was done that was unlawful and illegal. What are you talking about? Let us be specific here, otherwise it is a hypothetical question and it is totally out of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you do not have to answer the question.
Ms MARTIN: I do not think so. No.
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 112 - this is an entirely hypothetical issue and it should be ruled out of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, it does say questions should not contain hypothetical matter. Leader of the Opposition, could you rephrase your question?
Mr MILLS: It is simply a matter of a question regarding the Chief Minister’s policy.
Madam SPEAKER: All right, then ask it in that way.
Mr MILLS: That is the way I asked it. Obviously, there is difficulty in hearing the way this question is actually being asked for reasons that those who would be listening would completely understand.
Chief Minister, as a matter of policy, if a minister in your government supervised an unlawful or illegal process, and brought about unnecessary and substantial costs to landowners, would you sack that person from your Cabinet - in this case, the member for Casuarina - and why haven’t you?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, that is the most absurd question that we have ever had in this House. It is absurd! You are asserting – no, you are not asserting, you are saying, hypothetically – if something was done that was unlawful and illegal. What are you talking about? Let us be specific here, otherwise it is a hypothetical question and it is totally out of order.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you do not have to answer the question.
Ms MARTIN: I do not think so. No.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016