Page 1013 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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Suspension of Sitting
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (10.52), in reply: Madam Speaker, in closing the debate I would like to speak briefly on the matter which Mr Kaine raised in the adjournment debate and to say at the very outset that I support the action that you took in suspending the sitting of the Assembly for a brief period during the course of debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill today. Madam Speaker, I consider that the Bill before us is extremely difficult. It is certainly complicated and it is very lengthy. In the course of debate on this Bill we are having to consider amendments coming forward from at least two parties, and on occasions three and four, within this Assembly. It is very important that the order of those amendments and the implications of those amendments be given full weight in the debate. I believe that it is entirely in order for the Assembly to suspend or to be suspended for brief periods from time to time to allow members to confer or, as happened this evening, in fact, to get some legal advice on an amendment that comes forward from the floor of the chamber.
Madam Speaker, I do regret that some members appeared to be taken unawares by that procedure; but it is a procedure which I support, and it is a procedure which may well be called upon again in the course of debate on this Bill. I do not regard it as an unusual procedure in any way. It is what you, Madam Speaker, say every lunchtime on Wednesdays and Thursdays - "I believe that it is the wish of the Assembly to suspend for lunch". It was in no way an unusual statement by the Speaker. Any member could have raised objection to it; no member did. Madam Speaker, it may well happen again. If it does occur again in the course of this very important debate, I trust that members will be a little better prepared for it.
Mr Kaine: Permission may not be granted next time, unless it is discussed with us first.
MS FOLLETT: If you do wish to object, by all means make your objection known.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 10.54 pm
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