Page 3332 - Week 08 - Thursday, 23 August 2012
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then negate disallowance of this particular instrument. This is in relation to the loan financing capacity of the University of Canberra. The government has foreshadowed, through the government business meeting, that this was the intended course of action this week.
My understanding as to why it is not on the blue is that it was not listed by the administration and procedure committee. It is unclear to me why that is the case, but nevertheless the government has given prior notice of its intention to bring on and negate this disallowance. My advice is that the Treasurer’s office has advised his counterparts of that matter and that that is the proposed course of action.
I do not sit on admin and procedure. As I have just said, it is not on the blue because it was not listed by admin and procedure. It is unclear to me why admin and procedure did not list it but, nevertheless, there is no procedural reason why this matter cannot be brought on today. Notice has been given, advance advice has been given through the government business meeting as well, and I would ask members to agree to debate this motion, as has been put to the Assembly in accordance with the standing orders of the Assembly.
MR HANSON (Molonglo): It is quite clear that the information from the government about what we will be debating and what we will not debating this week has been a moving feast and there have been ongoing discussions about what we will and will not be discussing. I think that, by virtue of the fact that the matter was not placed on the blue, the opposition was of the view that this matter was not coming forward today. What we are saying is that it would be courteous for the government and the crossbench to allow this to be debated at a later hour this day so that the opposition can make sure that we have our process in place for this to be debated. We were not aware it was to be debated. I think that would be reasonable and I think that would be courteous. As I said before, could you review what is going on and advise about other matters that are on the notice paper but not on the blue which we are not aware are about to be debated?
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella): I want to note first off that this was raised in the government business meeting. It was actually raised the previous week, so we were aware that it was coming up. The opposition would have been aware of that also. I concur with Mr Hanson that perhaps if we move it to—
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MS BRESNAN: Can I please speak?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, please be quiet. I cannot hear Ms Bresnan.
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, is there actually a question before the Assembly at the moment?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: There is no question before the Assembly, it appears.
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