Page 3625 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011

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Tuesday, 23 August 2011

MR SPEAKER (Mr Rattenbury) took the chair at 10 am and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

Questions—out of order

Statement by Speaker

MR SPEAKER: Members, at the start of the day I wish to make a statement regarding matters raised by Mrs Dunne on Wednesday 17 August during question time last week. After I ruled a supplementary question asked by Mr Hargreaves out of order, Mrs Dunne raised a point of order. Mrs Dunne’s point of order asked me to review the record of question time and consider the number of times Mr Hargreaves had asked a question without notice which was clearly out of order. Mrs Dunne also asked what might be done as a remedy to this as the practice, in Mrs Dunne’s opinion, “soaks up supplementary questions for members who have legitimate questions”. I advised Mrs Dunne that I would reflect on her point of order and come back to the Assembly.

Members will be aware that the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure has as one of its terms of reference a mandate to inquire into and report on as appropriate the practices and procedure of the Assembly. Having considered the matter, I intend to raise the issue with that committee and seek that committee’s view on the issue.

Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee

Scrutiny report 41

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra): I present the following report:

Justice and Community Safety—Standing Committee (performing the duties of a Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation Committee)—Scrutiny Report 41, dated 22 August 2011, together with the relevant minutes of proceedings.

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Leave granted.

MRS DUNNE: Scrutiny report No 41 contains the committee’s comments on 57 pieces of subordinate legislation, one government response and one private member’s response. The committee has developed, with the assistance of Peter Bayne and Stephen Argument, legal advisers to the committee, fact sheets on the preparation of explanatory statements and on the drafting of subordinate legislation. The committee has authorised these two documents for publication, and copies will be provided to all members and will be uploaded onto the committee’s webpage. This report was circulated to members when the Assembly was not sitting.

I commend the report to the Assembly.


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