Page 65 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
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Wednesday, 24 May 1989
________________________
MR SPEAKER (Mr Prowse) took the chair at 10.30 am and read the prayer.
VOTING - STATEMENT BY SPEAKER
MR SPEAKER: I wish to make a short statement to the Assembly concerning the voting rights and responsibilities of members. Standing order 160 provides:
When Members are in their places, the Speaker shall state the question and then direct the Clerk to call the Assembly. The Clerk shall then call the names of the Members in alphabetical order and each Member on being called shall signify "Aye" or "No" accordingly.
There is no provision in the standing orders for a member to abstain from voting once the question has been stated and the Clerk has begun to call the Assembly. Therefore, I would like to give a ruling that if a member chooses not to vote on a particular question that member must leave the chamber before the vote is begun. In this circumstance we would ask that the member move just to the visitors gallery and he may then return to his seat after the vote has been declared.
I would also like to draw members' attention to standing order 153 which provides:
When the Speaker states, on putting a question, that the "Ayes" or the "Noes" (as the case may be) have it, that opinion may be challenged by a Member requesting a call of the Assembly.
It is open to any member to challenge the opinion of the Chair on a vote by requesting a call of the Assembly at that time. I am asking that that be done as soon as possible after the call.
MOTION WITHOUT NOTICE
MR WHALAN (Deputy Chief Minister): Mr Speaker, I seek to move a motion to alter the routine of business so that questions without notice may be called on at 2.30 pm today.
MR SPEAKER: Is leave granted? Leave is not granted.
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