Page 2735 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 6 October 2021

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heard about it at 9.04, or a bit after, this morning. That is the basis on which we should proceed. Therefore, we will not be supporting the suspension of standing orders. Minister Stephen-Smith made the correct point that it is only a half-hour delay.

I would hope that the opposition would have enough grace to recognise that, as frustrated as they might be by the procedural issues behind it, it is not a matter that other members have capability or responsibility for.

MS LEE (Kurrajong—Leader of the Opposition) (10.07): Madam Speaker, this is a matter of precedent. This is for you. When we have a member in this place who has complied fully, who has complied 100 per cent, in giving notice—in fact, as Mr Hanson pointed out, who has overachieved. That is what we are concerned about.

No-one is talking about depriving other members in this place of the ability or the time to prepare. But the fact is that Mrs Kikkert’s notice of a no confidence motion against Mr Gentleman was emailed, as per the standing orders, well within the 90 minutes.

Mr Rattenbury says that the whole point of the standing orders is to ensure that every member in this place has time. There are countless times when the opposition is caught off guard because of motions that are brought by government members in this place.

Let us not pretend that this is about saying, “Oh, let us all be fair and give notice to everybody in this place.” That is not how it works. Mrs Kikkert has done the right thing. This is about the members in this place saying, “Even if you comply with the standing orders, it does not matter.” Madam Speaker, what if, for whatever reason, you were not able to be in the office today? What if you were not able to access your emails and get notice of something? What happens then? Does that mean that, despite having complied with the standing orders, we are deprived of the ability to bring this motion on? We need to be very careful about this.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question resolved in the negative.

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