Page 3663 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011

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people. Mr Hargreaves was reflecting on Mr Doszpot’s conduct. He did the same thing last week when he was asking questions. These are the things that we have persistently and regularly brought to your attention.

Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, if you are going to rule questions out of order because they reflect on the conduct and character of members, all the questions from the Liberal Party will be consistently ruled out of order.

MR HARGREAVES: I would like to respond to Mrs Dunne. I am happy to withdraw any inference that Mr Doszpot is not interested in education.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, on the point you raised originally, those who were in the chamber this morning will have heard my report back to the Assembly on Mrs Dunne’s point of order last week. I have undertaken to take that matter to the administration and procedure committee, which deals with the conduct of such matters in the chamber.

Mrs Dunne, on the point that you have raised about questions not casting inference on other members, I think that is a fair point. Mr Hargreaves has just withdrawn. So we will now proceed.

Mr Hargreaves, I would ask you, when you are asking your questions, not to digress to members of the opposition.

MR HARGREAVES: Okay, Mr Speaker, at your service. My question to the minister for education is: would the minister advise what vision or policy the government is pursuing in relation to diversifying the ACT economy, particularly in the area of education employment?

MR BARR: Mr Speaker, I do—

Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, could I seek your ruling?

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne. Stop the clocks, thank you.

Mrs Dunne: Mr Hargreaves asked Mr Barr what vision or policy he had. Therefore, that would be not in accordance with standing orders. You cannot ask a minister to announce policy.

Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, it is not about announcing. It already exists and I want to know a bit more about it. Mrs Dunne is, again, guilty of frivolous interjection.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hargreaves. I do not think the question is asking the minister to announce policy, which I think is the central point of your point of order, Mrs Dunne.

Mrs Dunne: That was the question I was asking, Mr Speaker.


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