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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3700 ..

MR SPEAKER: Whether it is tedious and repetitious is a judgment I will have to make if it comes to that, but I think that the Chief Minister is coming to the point now.

MR STANHOPE: I have finished.

MR SPEAKER: He has finished.

Mrs Burke: I take a point of order on that point of order. Under standing order 73, the Chief Minister should sit down when a point of order is being taken.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mrs Burke. Do you have a supplementary question, Mrs Cross?

MRS CROSS: Yes, thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, could you provide for the Assembly a map indicating all the areas where the trees are earmarked for removal? Do you plan to inform the residents of the areas where these trees are going to be removed in due course?

MR STANHOPE: There is a question on the notice paper in relation to those matters, Mr Speaker. The question is out of order and I regret that I cannot answer it.

Mrs Cross: Mr Speaker, I could not hear the Chief Minister's response. He might like to speak into the microphone instead of into the air.

MR SPEAKER: The Chief Minister mentioned that there was a question of that nature on the notice paper.

Before we continue, I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of year 10 students from Canberra Girls Grammar. Welcome!

Mr Smyth: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order about the question that was just ruled to be out of order because of a question on the notice paper. The question on the notice paper asks for a progress report; it does not ask for a map. Mrs Cross asked specifically whether the Chief Minister would supply the Assembly with a map. I cannot see how a progress report that one member has requested contradicts the call for a map. I would ask for your guidance on this matter.

MR SPEAKER: Yesterday, Mrs Dunne raised a point of order with me about a question on the notice paper being, in effect, taken up by a question without notice in this place. That rule is applied to prevent members, if you like, gazumping the effect of questions placed on the notice paper. I think that questions which go to the substance of these issues and which are replicated on notice ought to be out of order, otherwise it would be unfair for members who have placed the questions on the notice paper. In the case of the questioner having the question on notice, it might be a different matter and I would be prepared to allow it. I do not know whether Mrs Cross asked the question on notice.

Mrs Cross: Mr Speaker, I seek clarification. I have checked the notice paper. There is no question on the notice paper that is identical to my question. If there is one, I would like the Chief Minister to advise me.

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