Page 551 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 June 1989
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ASSEMBLY PROCEDURES
MR SPEAKER: Members, I wish to make a statement about certain procedures in the Assembly. On several occasions since the Assembly first met, members who are not Ministers have sought to move for the suspension of standing orders. Standing order 272 provides that:
In cases of necessity, any standing order or orders of the Assembly may be suspended on motion, duly moved by a Minister, without notice: Provided that such motion is carried by an absolute majority of Members.
The effect of this standing order clearly is that only a Minister may move for the suspension of standing orders. As it has been adopted by this Assembly, I have no option but to apply it.
Also, earlier today Mr Moore sought to move dissent from a ruling of the Chair. There is no provision in the standing orders for such a motion to be moved from the floor of the chamber. If a member wishes to move dissent from the Speaker's ruling, the member would need to place a notice of motion on the notice paper.
On both these matters - that is, the ability of members other than a Minister to move for suspension of standing orders, and the possibility of members moving dissent motions - it is open to the Assembly to amend its standing orders.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Bruce Stadium
MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Deputy Chief Minister wearing his hat as Minister for sport. I refer the Minister to the front page of today's Canberra Times, which deals with an investigation by the Corporate Affairs Commission into the Woodgers corporation which controls the Canberra Raiders, following the public disclosure yesterday of Woodgers' severe financial problems and the efforts by Jim Woodger to secure new equity capital and loans to rescue the property group from financial collapse. My question is: Does this affect the Minister's proposals to redevelop the Bruce Stadium?
MR WHALAN: If I were to give the short answer which people encourage me to use, I would say no. But I will not just say no, in the interests of harmony.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Deputy Chief Minister.
MR WHALAN: The Woodger corporation is one of about 40 sponsors of the Canberra Raiders, and its sponsorship contribution represents 10 per cent of the annual revenue
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