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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 3908 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

not warranted and you are able to reassure them that everything is fine, it is not good enough for an Arts Minister to say, "This is not a matter of public importance". If you had been at that meeting you would have known that the arts community is very concerned. Let us hope that those concerns can be addressed.

MR SPEAKER: The member's time has expired.

MS TUCKER: I seek a very short extension.

Mrs Carnell: You cannot have an extension on an MPI.

MR SPEAKER: I am sorry; there is no opportunity.

MS TUCKER: No, I cannot. Okay, I close on that note.

MR SPEAKER: The discussion is concluded.

Mr Wood: Frankly, there was an opportunity. The time has not expired.

MR SPEAKER: The discussion is concluded.

Ms Follett: I raise a point of clarification, Mr Speaker. Under what standing order is a member not able to seek an extension during an MPI debate?

MR SPEAKER: Because there are set times on an MPI.

Ms Follett: Mr Speaker, is a member not able to seek leave for an extension?

Mr Wood: There have been extensions on MPIs.

Mr Humphries: Very rarely. Traditionally, we have not given them during MPI debates.

Mr Wood: But today there is no next speaker, so the time is available.

Mr Humphries: No; we have Government business to do, so the time is not available.

Ms Follett: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: There being no other speakers, I, for one, am perfectly prepared to give the speaker leave for an extension, if she so wishes.

MS TUCKER: I have only about three minutes to finish.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, on that point of order: Obviously, Ms Tucker is entitled to seek leave and she can do so. I would just remind her - she might not have been aware - that traditionally we have made a decision that we would not give extensions on matters of public importance.

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