Page 3448 - Week 09 - Thursday, 20 August 2009
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Ms Gallagher: The supplementary.
MR SMYTH: Then the supplementary was—I am quite capable of reading, I will talk slowly for you if you are that anxious—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. It goes to the matter of the Gaming Machine Act and the concerns raised by the President of the Labor Club.
MR SPEAKER: On the point of order, as I have heard it, Mr Smyth, I think you have framed your question in a way that it is about Mr Stanhope’s personal actions.
Mr Seselja: Just on that, Mr Speaker—
Ms Gallagher: You’re questioning the Speaker now, are you?
Mr Seselja: No, I am not going to dissent, but I am seeking clarification on the ruling. Mr Speaker, you said it is in relation to personal conduct, but the ministerial code of conduct specifically cites it, and the part that was cited says “whether in a personal or official capacity”. The question is whether, in his personal capacity, it had the potential to damage public confidence in the system of government. That is what the question is about. The ministerial code of conduct specifically cites personal actions.
Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Mr Speaker—
Mrs Dunne: It’s not a point of order; he’s seeking clarification of the ruling.
Mr Corbell: Well—
MR SPEAKER: I will hear Mr Corbell.
Mr Corbell: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you for your indulgence. Mr Speaker, as you, I am sure, are all too well aware, you make rulings in this place based on the standing orders of this place, not in relation to the code of conduct. The standing orders in this place make it clear that questions can only be asked of ministers in question time insofar as they relate to their ministerial responsibilities.
Mr Seselja: Yes, the code of conduct. That’s ministerial responsibility, surely.
MR SMYTH: The question—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, and then I am going to rule on the clarification.
MR SMYTH: Whenever there is any doubt about what was intended, we always go back to the delivery speech. The Chief Minister said in his speech when he tabled the code of conduct:
However, the government does not intend to simply adopt a code and think nothing more of it. I consider that the principles and standards set out in the code apply each day a minister is in office and are relevant to each decision he or she makes.
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