Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2076 ..

MR SPEAKER (continuing):

However, under House of Representatives Practice page 513, that Minister may also transfer a question to another Minister and it is not in order to question the reason for doing so. There is no inconsistency.

Ms Follett: I would like to take a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr Berry: Hand in your money.

MR SPEAKER: Just a moment, please. Ms Follett is taking a point of order, Mr Berry.

Ms Follett: I am indeed, Mr Speaker. There are two issues that I would like to draw your attention to. The specific question asked by Mr Berry related to jobs. As I understand it, Mr De Domenico, in his ever-diminishing portfolio, still enjoys the role of Minister for Employment. Is that not correct - or would the Chief Minister like to correct that impression as well? Mr Speaker, the second matter I would like to draw your attention to is that Mr Berry's question specifically asked the Minister, Mr De Domenico, to comment on a matter raised by Mr Humphries. It is completely unacceptable to have Mr Humphries commenting on his own comments. Members must be permitted to ask questions of the relevant Minister - not the patsy over there but the relevant Minister, the bloke who is being paid to do this job - and they would have every right to expect an answer from that Minister, as does the Canberra community.

MR HUMPHRIES: May I address the point of order, Mr Speaker. Some time ago the Government established a process to consider issues to do with retailing - trading hours, allocation of retail space, expansion of town centres, and so on. I was the Minister given responsibility for all of those matters in global examination under the Government. Obviously, all Ministers were involved to a certain extent in preparing those issues, but I was the Minister given primary carriage of those matters.

Mr Moore: Why did you not table the legislation?

MR HUMPHRIES: With a task of that kind which is limited in time, there is no requirement that legislation should be transferred by administrative orders to different Ministers in order to fit in with that temporary arrangement. Mr Speaker, under the administrative orders Mr De Domenico has responsibility for the Trading Hours Act. He therefore introduced this legislation, but since the beginning of this process I have been the Minister who has been responsible, under the umbrella of the retailing policy, for the whole policy. Mr Speaker, it is entirely appropriate that the Government be able to answer the question with the person they consider the best person because of his familiarity with the subject and not be dictated to by those opposite as to who will answer the question.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker - - -

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .