Page 1573 - Week 05 - Thursday, 2 June 2022
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change to standing order 113A. This is about questions without notice and it is about the ability of the opposition to hold the government to account with a range of questions during question time.
We have spoken about this at length. My colleague Mr Hanson has been a fierce advocate for a change of this type to the standing orders, as has everyone in our party room, the Canberra Liberals. We absolutely support this amendment today, and it will be passed, but our slight disappointment is about the change to having the number of questions equivalent to the number of members present in the chamber. What that means, of course, is that if someone on our side is away sick or on maternity leave or paternity leave or on parliamentary business, we do not get the same opportunity in terms of the same number of questions to hold the government to account. We would like to have seen the same number of questions as we have elected representatives in our party room.
This is about holding the government to account. It is about the ability to ask questions without restricting our ability to ask questions in any way. We are supportive of this change. It achieves, to a very large extent, what we were seeking. We are keen to ensure that we have continued scrutiny. We have little enough opportunity, given that we are in opposition, to try to hold this government to account. We do it every day, to the best of our ability. We would like to have seen it continue with the same number of questions, irrespective of whether someone is away on a particular day. I commend the amendment to the Assembly. Once again, I thank admin and procedures for working through this amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.
Planning, Transport and City Services—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MS CLAY (Ginninderra) (11.59): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services. I inform the Assembly of a new inquiry into EV vehicle charging in Canberra, announced out of session after the committee meeting last Thursday, 26 May 2022. The inquiry terms of reference are relatively broad to allow industry and community the opportunity to have input on the challenges facing Canberrans as the EV market expands and motorists choose more sustainable transport.
Research shows that electric car sales have tripled in Australia since 2020—to 20,655 last year—and electric cars now make up in excess of two per cent of all vehicles sold nationally. Yet the evidence of preparedness of jurisdictions to cater for the infrastructure needs of this desirable change appears mixed in many parts of Australia. The committee decided on an extended submission period to encourage adequate consideration, and in briefing the Assembly today we anticipate that this inquiry may be held during the second half of 2022.
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