Page 3369 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 20 September 2005

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I am pleased to have cleared this up. It is a pity that the opposition dragged the Chief Justice into it. In their own way, by embroiling the Chief Justice in political controversy, they breached the separated of powers.

MR SPEAKER: The member’s time has expired.

Mr Stanhope: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Papers—tabling by Chief Minister

MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra) (3.37): Mr Speaker, given that the Chief Minister was referring to that letter, I would ask for it to be tabled.

MR SPEAKER: It is a matter for the Chief Minister.

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, he was quoting from a document and, under standing order 213, I would ask him to table it. He was reading from the document. There is that standing order which says that, if he is quoting from a document, he should table it.

MR SPEAKER: You will have to move a motion, Mr Stefaniak. It is really a matter of courtesy that it is available to the Chief Minister. If you want to require him to do that you would have to move a motion. Bear in mind, Mr Stefaniak—and I need not remind you of this, I do not think—the practice of attempting to have ministers table at question time briefs and so on and how that might come back one day to bite you if you are lucky.

MR STEFANIAK: I appreciate that, Mr Speaker. I think there is a distinction here in that he is quoting from a letter rather than from a question time brief. I move:

That the document quoted from by Mr Stanhope (Attorney-General) be presented to the Assembly.

It is quite different to the question time brief where a member in this place quotes from a document. Where members have quoted from things like letters, use that in a debate and use that in answers to questions without notice, the tradition has been—and indeed the standing order states—that that document be tabled. That is what I am seeking. I think it is a fairly longstanding tradition in this place.

Question put:

That Mr Stefaniak’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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