Thursday, 12 September 2024

Written responses

The PRESIDENT (12:51): Ms Blandthorn will get answers for Mr Limbrick from the Minister for Local Government. Minister Symes has committed to Mr Bourman for two questions on agriculture. Minister Tierney committed to Mr Mulholland on the two questions that he asked her directly.

Samantha Ratnam: On a point of order, President, will you review the relevance of the answer I received to see if the matter can be taken on notice?

The PRESIDENT: Yes, I can recommit to that. I think there are a few things to work through in terms of, as I said, what is reasonable to expect the minister to have detail on and things like that. But I will get back to the house later today.

Melina Bath: On a point of order, President, I have some overdue constituency questions, directed to the relevant ministers but still outstanding: 887 on housing, 964 on WorkSafe, 985 on police, 1015 on education and 1072 on housing.

Harriet Shing: On the point of order, President, I am very happy to seek answers to those questions and follow up.

Georgie Crozier: President, I was going to raise a point of order after constituency questions, but as Ms Bath has just raised hers that have not been answered, there was a ruling by the Speaker in the lower house yesterday regarding ministers who had not responded. They have got until the end of the September break to provide those answers. The opposition have 161 questions outstanding. I can go through them. I am just wondering: would you consider a similar ruling for ministers to also be required to answer questions, given that the Speaker made that ruling yesterday?

The PRESIDENT: I apologise, Ms Crozier. I was not aware of any ruling in the other chamber, and we do operate separately for a reason. I think the process we have is that if people have some outstanding constituency questions that have not been responded to and if they want to bring them up in the chamber now, they should feel free to.