Wednesday, 21 June 2023

Rulings from the Chair

Constituency questions

The SPEAKER (14:41): Yesterday the member for Ringwood raised a point of order about the admissibility of a constituency question from the member for Kew. As is usual practice when such a point of order is raised, I have reviewed all constituency questions asked yesterday. It was disappointing to see that at least half the constituency questions were either not admissible or questionable at best. I will take this opportunity to remind members about the requirements for constituency questions. Sessional order 8(1) provides that:

At the conclusion of oral questions without notice and ministers’ statements, five government members and five non-government members may ask one oral question each to ministers relating to constituency matters.

Previous rulings from the Chair have clarified that this means constituency questions must be a single question and must not seek an action. By their nature questions are interrogative and seek information. Whilst there may be sometimes a more fine distinction between a question and seeking an action, I encourage members to phrase their questions by beginning with ‘how’, ‘why’, ‘what’ or ‘when’ and this will generally avoid confusion about admissibility. If members are ever in doubt about whether their questions meet these requirements, please run them by me or the clerks. The matters raised yesterday by members are no doubt very important matters, which gives me hesitation to rule them out. Therefore I will allow them to stand and leave it with ministers to respond as best they are able. However, I warn members that in future I will rule out constituency questions that are clearly in breach of these requirements.

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, I have some unanswered questions I would like you to follow up, please: question 89 for the Minister for Health, question 118 for the Minister for Emergency Services and question 168 for the Minister for Housing.

The SPEAKER: They will be followed up.

Tim Bull: On a point of order, Speaker, I have 25 overdue questions. I will just run through the numbers quickly: 67, 73, 76, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 232, 236, 237, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 434 and 435. They are to the ministers for housing, agriculture, government services, environment, energy and resources, disability, ageing and carers, and police. They are all very important matters to my electorate, and I would appreciate those being pursued so that I can get some answers.

The SPEAKER: The matters will be followed up.

Bill Tilley: On a point of order, Speaker, I have two questions to the Minister for Environment from 8 February, 132 days ago: questions on notice 94 and 96. They relate to the limits on trapping wild dogs in parks in the Benambra district and the integrity of the wild dog exclusion fence in the Tallangatta Valley. I would appreciate an answer before some of these dogs have another litter of pups.

The SPEAKER: An interesting point of order.

Sam Hibbins: On a point of order, I actually have an unanswered adjournment, number 27. That was for the Minister for Housing in regard to the Ombudsman’s report on public housing complaints. It was made on 8 February 2023, and I ask that the minister follow up and an answer be provided.