Page 3034 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 10 September 1991
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Question Time
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Chief Minister. In view of the fact that there are now 11 non-government members, excluding the Speaker, who may wish to ask questions of government Ministers, will the Chief Minister increase the time normally allowed for questions to 45 minutes in order to provide for an adequate amount of scrutiny of executive activities, which, as we all know, is the role of non-government members in a parliamentary democracy?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Jensen for the question. Mr Speaker, it has been my experience since we have been back in government that the non-government members often actually struggle to get up to 30 minutes' worth. On the occasions when they have exhibited an unusual degree of activity and interest and intellectual stimulation, I have on many occasions allowed question time to extend well beyond the 30 minutes that is normal. In fact, on one occasion, when we had the cameras here, it was over an hour, I believe. I think members have plenty of time to ask questions. I also believe that they get very succinct, meaningful and informative answers from the Ministers. On those occasions when there is clearly a need to extend question time I will, as I have done in the past; but I do not think we need a new rule on it.
Electoral System
MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Chief Minister, Mr Speaker. Over the last week at each function a government Minister has spoken at they have put in a not insubstantial plug for single member electorates.
Mrs Grassby: A good idea.
MR STEFANIAK: It is a dreadful idea. I think the Hare-Clark system is much better. Firstly, Chief Minister, it has been commented that that is an unreasonable use of what is, in fact, basically a non-political type of function. Is it government policy, in fact, to plug for single member electorates at every possible opportunity, including what should be bipartisan administrative type functions which government Ministers attend and speak at, in that capacity, regularly?
Mr Duby: I hope the answer is shorter than the question.
MS FOLLETT: No, the answer is going to be incredibly long and all to do with single member electorates, of course. Mr Speaker, I think it is well known that the Labor Party has a policy position of supporting single member electorates. We do so for the very good reason that they are the best possible electoral arrangement for the ACT.
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