Page 3447 - Week 09 - Thursday, 20 August 2009
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food for thought. These are the sorts of issues that, if you wish, we can begin to pursue.
Mrs Dunne: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Yesterday, you ruled specifically on this subject. When the Chief Minister went down the path of the 250 Club, you ruled that that was not relevant to the question. I ask you to rule again on that matter.
MR STANHOPE: I have concluded my answer, thank you.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary question?
MR SMYTH: Yes, thank you, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister, will you confirm that you personally voted for a resolution that sought to impose the will of the Labor Party on an independent board of directors?
Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: the question does not relate to the Chief Minister’s ministerial responsibility. How the Chief Minister votes in the internal forums of the Australian Labor Party has nothing to do with his responsibilities as Chief Minister in this place. Unless the person asking the question can indicate how it is relevant to the Chief Minister’s portfolio responsibilities, the question is out of order.
Mr Seselja: Mr Speaker, I know they are particularly sensitive on this, but we have dealt with this. This is in relation to the ministerial code of conduct, which, presumably, the Chief Minister is answerable for. We have quoted from the ministerial code of conduct. It is about damaging public confidence in the system of government.
Ms Gallagher: The supplementary didn’t quote from that.
Mr Seselja: The supplementary does not have to quote it again—it does not have to regurgitate the first one. The supplementary question relates directly to these actions and the potential of certain actions to offend against the ministerial code of conduct. It is completely in order. They keep making the same argument, but we have had this argument earlier in the week. The Chief Minister is responsible for the ministerial code of conduct. This is relevant to the ministerial code of conduct, and he should have to answer the question.
Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, it is not relevant to the code of conduct. It is a question about actions that the Chief Minister may or may not have engaged in in relation to the internal matters of a political party. It is out of order.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, can you just repeat your question?
MR SMYTH: Certainly. The original question—
MR SPEAKER: No, just the supplementary question.
MR SMYTH: It referred to conduct in light of the sale of the group.
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