Page 2474 - Week 09 - Thursday, 17 September 1992
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POINTS OF ORDER
Papers and Statement by Speaker
MADAM SPEAKER: I table, for the information of members, a piece of correspondence sent to my office at the beginning of this sitting period. As you will see from the information I table, this correspondence has attached to it what purports to be a statistical analysis of points of order in the Legislative Assembly sittings up to and including Thursday, 20 August 1992. The correspondence is signed by the Leader of the Opposition. The letter merely brings these so-called statistics to my attention. Had the matter rested there, I would have had no particular reason to follow it up or to bring it to the attention of the Assembly. However, information conveyed to me in conversations with some members of the Assembly makes it evident that the document I have tabled has come into the possession of a journalist in Canberra.
If the Liberal Party and the Leader of the Opposition wish this matter to be one of public debate or debate in the Assembly, that is their right, which I strongly support. However, to the extent that statistics may be relevant, I believe that the Assembly will be best served by the presentation of accurate statistics obtained from an authoritative source. I have therefore asked for an examination of the Weekly Hansard index to be made to determine whether the summary presented constitutes an accurate record of events in the chamber. I am advised that it does not. The Weekly Hansard for the final part of the period covered by the letter is not yet available. However, points of order can be examined for the sittings up to and including 13 August 1992. While this is one week shorter than the period examined in the paper sent to me, it is the only accurate analysis available to me at the present time.
As you will see from the paper I now table, a total of 48 points of order were taken by the Opposition in this period. The official record shows that there were significantly more points of order taken by the Opposition than they claim. Even allowing for the fact that we are examining a period one week less than that examined in the statistics of the Leader of the Opposition, the points of order are underestimated by a factor of 33 per cent. Looking at the other categories discussed, such as "Not ruled upon at all", "Ruled against" and "Upheld", my advice shows that the statistics are also inaccurate there.
In conclusion, I ask members to note the following: I do not accept that statistical analysis, whether official or freelance, is a particularly productive basis for examination of points of order or other rulings in this chamber. The device of points of order, in this Assembly and in other parliamentary forums, is frequently used tactically to disrupt the flow of proceedings. I have sought throughout these proceedings to apply the standing orders correctly for all members of the chamber and, with the support of the chamber, I will continue to do so.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion (by Mr Berry) agreed to:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Assembly adjourned at 6.27 pm until Tuesday, 13 October 1992, at 2.30 pm
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