Page 1607 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 19 May 1993
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They may write letters; they may make phone calls; they may send a fax; they may write a letter to a newspaper; they may take part in a radio talkback program; they may, as frequently happens, stop me in the supermarket and let me know their views. There are any number of ways in which people can put forward a view to the Government or to the Opposition.
There are also, Madam Speaker, a number of community organisations which do so in a structured way. All of the groups that exist in the community, such as the P and C, from time to time advise the Government of their views and of the views of their constituent members. This is another form of consultation. Madam Speaker, it is also the case that within government I have a number of consultation mechanisms available to me, as do other Ministers. I have the Women's Consultative Council, the Multicultural Council and the Youth Advisory Council. There are industrial relations advisory councils and the Independent Health Complaints Unit. There are any number of methods of facilitating communication between the Government and the community.
Madam Speaker, what I am proposing in this formal consultative mechanism certainly does not rule out any of those other options. It is in fact an attempt to increase people's say, to increase the avenues by which people can make their views known to government. Because it is a relatively formal process, it is also a way of making sure that on issues on which the community ought to be consulted they are actually consulted. It provides a further vehicle for that kind of communication to occur.
There are many issues which cross over Ministers' portfolios; there are issues which do not sit comfortably within any portfolio; yet those matters must also be the subject of debate with the community. This consultative mechanism is a further process which in no way diminishes any of the other processes already available.
MADAM SPEAKER: I call Ms Ellis.
Mr Stevenson: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Stevenson. What is your point of order?
Mr Stevenson: The point of order relates to the fact that you have given the call to Ms Ellis. Does standing order 44 not require that you give the call to the person first on their feet?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, when I am conducting question time the regulation that guides me, apart from that standing order, is that the order of speakers should ensure equal participation between and across parties. That is a question time practice that is upheld in every parliament in Australia. It is upheld totally fairly here, and you will get your call in order.
Mr Stevenson: Does that mean that standing order 44 does not apply?
MADAM SPEAKER: You will get your turn, Mr Stevenson, and I will not entertain that point of order again.
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