Page 2434 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 7 August 1990
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granted leave. They did not. We have now heard from the Chief Minister, his political colleague, that he does not know where he is. It is absolutely improper for us to be considering the motion at this point when the question which I asked in question time and which you undertook to provide an answer to has not so far been fully answered.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Ms Follett, if we want to quote standing orders I have been advised that the applicable standing orders are 23 to 24. You could also look at subparagraph 14(1)(b)(ii) of the self-government Act as well.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (4.21): Mr Acting Speaker, I am a little intrigued at the nature of the debate. I must admit that I do not control the Speaker. He is not responsible to me. I presume that some endorsement was given to him going wherever he is by the procedures committee, so it must have been dealt with somewhere.
Ms Follett: "Under what authority", was the question.
MR KAINE: I do not know. I do not know the answer to the question. It is up to the Speaker to answer it. The only comment that I want to make, Mr Acting Speaker, is to ask a question: if the Speaker of this house is representing it at a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting - - -
Ms Follett: Is he? Do we know?
MR KAINE: I do not know. That seems to be the implication. You said, "Is he in Rarotonga or somewhere". I presume that you mean he is at that meeting. I do not know whether that is true or not but if it is true, is he not actually on duty for the Assembly? Does he need leave of absence at all? I think that it raises - - -
Mr Wood: Nobody need apply for leave then.
MR KAINE: You have raised an interesting question, Mr Wood. You do not apply for leave when you travel to Darwin or Brisbane or Adelaide on committee business. If you are out of town on Assembly committee business I would submit to you that you would not seek leave.
Mr Wood: Never in Assembly time.
MR KAINE: It has not happened yet, but it is quite conceivable that you could have to travel somewhere on Assembly business - - -
Mr Wood: I would apply for leave.
MR KAINE: I submit that you would not because you would be acting in your capacity as a member of the Assembly. I think it is a very hypothetical question. Mr Acting Speaker, are we indulging in a general sit around and chat or are we indulging in a debate on this matter?
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