The Leader of the Opposition raises concerns about insufficient ministerial presence during question time. The Leader of the House acknowledges the issue and commits to improving ministerial attendance, citing scheduling conflicts with national meetings as a challenge.

AnsweredQoN 375Legislative Council
Asked
14 November 2002
Portfolio
Leader of the House

QuestionView source ↗

We again have a situation in which - for reasons that have been explained to me - only one minister is in the Chamber. I acknowledge that one minister is not well. However, this has happened on several occasions in recent times. I ask the Leader of the House to ensure that during question time, more than one minister is in the Chamber, although we would prefer three to be present. Can the Leader of the House do his best to ensure that at least two ministers are present during question time? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the Leader of the Opposition for a perfectly reasonable question. Hon Tom Stephens is ill today. Aside from that, the only way we can guarantee that more ministers be present is by trying to ensure that meetings of national ministers do not fall on sitting days. As the Leader of the Opposition, a former longstanding minister, knows, that can be difficult to arrange. However, we will endeavour to do that. It is a reasonable question, and we will endeavour to ensure that our performance in this regard improves.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the Leader of the Opposition for a perfectly reasonable question. Hon Tom Stephens is ill today. Aside from that, the only way we can guarantee that more ministers be present is by trying to ensure that meetings of national ministers do not fall on sitting days. As the Leader of the Opposition, a former longstanding minister, knows, that can be difficult to arrange. However, we will endeavour to do that. It is a reasonable question, and we will endeavour to ensure that our performance in this regard improves.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for a perfectly reasonable question. Hon Tom Stephens is ill today. Aside from that, the only way we can guarantee that more ministers be present is by trying to ensure that meetings of national ministers do not fall on sitting days. As the Leader of the Opposition, a former longstanding minister, knows, that can be difficult to arrange. However, we will endeavour to do that. It is a reasonable question, and we will endeavour to ensure that our performance in this regard improves.

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