Page 489 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 February 2013
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Mr Barr: Madam Speaker, on your ruling, there are a series of public statements that have been made and the question also asked me to reflect upon historical outcomes in the territory economy which, as Treasurer, I am able to do.
MADAM SPEAKER: I have made a ruling and my ruling is that the question relates to the election of a government that has not been elected, so that is hypothetical. The question was: what would the nature of those cuts be?
Mr Barr: Proposed cuts that have been publicly announced.
MADAM SPEAKER: That is not within your ministerial responsibility. I rule the question out of order.
Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, on your ruling. I would ask you to reconsider because it is quite clear that Ms Porter was asking about comments on the public record from the alternative government and what they intend to do should they be elected. The Treasurer has been asked what will be the impact of that on the ACT economy.
MADAM SPEAKER: That is not the question that Ms Porter asked.
Mr Corbell: It has been quantified by the alternative government as being 20,000 jobs.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Can people please be quiet so I can hear Mr Corbell?
Mr Corbell: Clearly, it is entirely within the ambit of the Treasurer responsible for the management of the ACT economy to indicate the impact of the loss of 20,000 jobs from the ACT economy. What part of the question is hypothetical when all of those facts are known and on the public record, Madam Speaker?
MADAM SPEAKER: Sit down.
Mr Coe: On a point of order, Madam Speaker—
MADAM SPEAKER: On my ruling? You want to contribute as well, Mr Coe?
Mr Coe: Yes, Madam Speaker. The supplementary asked by Ms Porter was about the proposed nature of the cuts. I believe the only person that can accurately answer that is the federal government. I do not see how the ACT government can actually control that.
MADAM SPEAKER: I have made my ruling. The ruling is such that, on this occasion, if Ms Porter can rephrase the question to make it in order, it is within the capacity of the Speaker to direct that a member may rephrase the question to make it in order. But it cannot be hypothetical and it cannot deal with the areas of responsibility of a commonwealth minister.
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