Page 1107 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 6 May 2014
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Mr Gentleman, according to page 637 of the notice paper, has charge of the planning, environment and territory and municipal services committee. The question was in relation to his chairmanship of the committee, not specifically the report, and about his activities as chair, which he still is—what were his activities in telling or not telling Mr Corbell something.
Mr Coe: And if I may just add, Madam Speaker—
MADAM SPEAKER: I am quite happy to have this discussion, because it is a very important issue.
Mr Coe: I draw your attention—it was brought to my attention by Ms Lawder—to standing order 117(e):
… questions shall not refer to proceedings in committee not yet published or anticipate the outcome of a committee inquiry …
Therefore, when can a question be asked? If it cannot be asked during a committee inquiry and then cannot be asked after a committee inquiry, it would seem that there would be very few opportunities to actually ask a question of a committee chair.
Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Madam Speaker—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! This is an important issue, and it needs ventilating.
Mr Corbell: I take it that you are taking submissions on this, Madam Speaker?
MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, I am. I am quite happy to take submissions.
Mr Corbell: Mr Coe’s comments are spurious. He misinterprets that standing order. The standing order is there to hold committee chairs to account, in the same way that ministers are held to account, in exactly the manner that you characterised it, Madam Speaker. That is: “Mr Chair/Madam Chair, why have you not reported?” That does it for: “Mr Chair/Madam Chair, why have you not undertaken public hearings?” Or: “Madam Chair, why have you only held one public hearing to date?” These are the types of matters that it is appropriate to ask a committee chair about.
The question that was put to Mr Gentleman was in relation to the circumstances of a particular inquiry. As you have ruled, the committee has discharged its responsibilities in relation to that matter, and it is no longer a matter before the committee in any way. There is no referral. There is no matter before the committee as of this morning. Therefore, Mr Gentleman cannot be asked about matters involving that referral, inquiry and report.
The opportunity to challenge those matters is in debate in this place or through other fora, but not through the use of this standing order.
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