Page 4621 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 November 2005
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Chief Minister’s Department—annual report 2004-05
Paper and statement by minister
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Environment and Minister Arts, Heritage and Indigenous Affairs): For the information of members, I present the following paper:
Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act, pursuant to section 13—Chief Minister’s Department—Annual Report 2004-05—Corrigendum.
I ask for leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave not granted.
Standing orders—suspension
Motion (by Mr Stanhope) proposed:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Stanhope from making a statement.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella—Leader of the Opposition) (3.44) Mr Speaker, it has been a tradition in this place that courtesy is extended to members in many forms. One of them is leave. Another is advice that a motion that they are to respond to is about to be brought on. We do that to facilitate the smooth and efficient running of this place, in many ways to make is easy for you, Mr Speaker, so that we do not waste time doing exactly what we are doing now.
There has been discourtesy and a lack of organisation in government ranks this morning. Courtesy applies to many things, Mr Speaker. It should be applied so that members get the chance to do their jobs. This morning the government whip failed to inform members what was likely to come on during the day so that they could be prepared. Apparently—
MR SPEAKER: The question is that the standing orders be suspended.
MR SMYTH: Yes, Mr Speaker, and I am explaining why they should not be suspended.
MR SPEAKER: I can hardly see how something that happened this morning is relevant to the debate about whether the standing orders be suspended.
MR SMYTH: The government has moved to suspend the standing orders because we have denied the Chief Minister leave. I am explaining why we have denied leave so that we can get on with this in a more harmonious manner.
Government members interjecting—
MR SMYTH: If you do not want to hear the explanation, I will keep doing it all afternoon. The point is that not even the manager of government business knew that this was going to be done this morning. Mr Mulcahy, who was part heard on a matter this
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