Page 3 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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Without speaking for the Government on this matter - it is not a matter for government; it is a matter of conscience as to how one sees this question - I think that Mr Stevenson is well aware that in principle I and the other Liberal members of this Assembly support the banning of the distribution of this material. It has been in our policy since day one of this Government and during the election campaign that we fought a year ago. It is pleasing to see that there are people in the community who are prepared to come out publicly, state their opinion and make it known to members of this Assembly. I would presume that when the matter is subsequently debated in the House, pursuant to Mr Stevenson's Bill, their opinions will be taken into account.
MR SPEAKER: I call Mrs Nolan.
Mr Whalan: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I refer you to standing orders 113, 114, 117 and 275. I also refer you to Australian Senate Practice which has some persuasive value in this chamber and House of Representatives Practice which has specific reference in this chamber. I refer you, first of all, to page 214 of the fifth edition of Australian Senate Practice, in which it says of question time:
... the most obvious manifestation of responsible Government ... is question time.
It specifies there that:
... Ministers are subjected to questions of private Senators ... with respect to the administration of their departments.
I refer you to page 479 of the House of Representatives Practice, and I quote:
It is fundamental in the concept of responsible government that the Executive Government be accountable to the Parliament ... The accountability of the Government is demonstrated most clearly and publicly at Question Time.
And at page - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Whalan. Could you please state your point of order?
Mr Whalan: I am about to state my point of order, Mr Speaker. Page 482 of House of Representatives Practice points out that:
Any private Member ... may ask a question without notice.
The point that I am referring to, Mr Speaker, is the word "private". In relation to Australian Senate Practice and House of
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