Thursday, 31 October 2024

Rulings from the Chair

Constituency questions

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (14:53): Yesterday the Manager of Opposition Business took a point of order regarding an answer to a constituency question from the Premier, which the Speaker took on notice. Members may ask ministers questions about the service delivery and policies in their departments. It is not in order to put to a minister a question for which another minister is more directly responsible – see Erskine May, 25th edition, paragraph 22.17. There are a couple of provisos to that. Where a question cuts across more than one portfolio area it is admissible to direct a question to the Premier, and as the Premier is the leader of the government, questions about government administration overall may also be directed to them. However, it is open to any minister, including the Premier, to provide a response that indicates the question is better directed to a minister with primary portfolio responsibility. Equally, the minister or Premier can simply ask another minister to provide a response. An answer specifying that another minister is better placed to answer is a valid answer. I do not uphold the point of order.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, on clarification, is that upholding now a rule that a Premier is not capable of answering a question and therefore will pass issues to subordinate ministers because the Premier is unable to answer them? I do make the point again that I never saw the former Premier not able to answer a question put through adjournment or constituency questions.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is going a little outside a point of order. The ruling is the ruling. Should you wish to discuss it with me or the Speaker outside the chamber, that is completely appropriate. I am happy to do so, and presumably the Speaker will be back very soon.