❓ Hon. Tjorn Sibma asks about the availability of Cook-Saffioti government ministers to answer questions during a non-sitting week. The Leader of the House responds, highlighting existing protocols for advising members of ministerial unavailability.
AnsweredQoN 904Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
— ANSWERS
904. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
Noting
that the Legislative Assembly will not sit next week, which members of the Cook–Saffioti
government will be unavailable to provide answers to questions without notice
submitted by members of the Legislative Council ?
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
— ANSWERS
904. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
Noting
that the Legislative Assembly will not sit next week, which members of the Cook–Saffioti
government will be unavailable to provide answers to questions without notice
submitted by members of the Legislative Council ?
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for some notice of the question. I will read out the Premier's
answer, but I make this point: we have a longstanding arrangement in place that
has existed across governments of both persuasions whereby if ministers are not
available, the public servant who manages parliamentary questions advises
members of the opposition and others lodging questions whether a minister is
available. The other thing, of course, is that the deputy leader and I remind
our colleagues at a meeting, which we cannot talk about but which may or may
not be held on a Monday, that we are sitting and they are not. I am not aware
of any significant problems in that process. I am not sure why the member would
waste a parliamentary question on that.
Hon Tjorn Sibma : I just hope
not to waste our time next week.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon SUE ELLERY : You are
wasting it now! The Premier has provided the following answer.
The unavailability of any minister
will be communicated to members through the longstanding protocols.
thank the member for some notice of the question. I will read out the Premier's
answer, but I make this point: we have a longstanding arrangement in place that
has existed across governments of both persuasions whereby if ministers are not
available, the public servant who manages parliamentary questions advises
members of the opposition and others lodging questions whether a minister is
available. The other thing, of course, is that the deputy leader and I remind
our colleagues at a meeting, which we cannot talk about but which may or may
not be held on a Monday, that we are sitting and they are not. I am not aware
of any significant problems in that process. I am not sure why the member would
waste a parliamentary question on that.
Hon Tjorn Sibma : I just hope
not to waste our time next week.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon SUE ELLERY : You are
wasting it now! The Premier has provided the following answer.
The unavailability of any minister
will be communicated to members through the longstanding protocols.
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