Page 1523 - Week 05 - Thursday, 7 May 2015

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for the executive to determine who answers a question. If you have concerns about that, you can take it up with the executive through a motion, through an adjournment speech or you could raise it as a matter of public importance. We cannot have back-to-back points of order trying to prosecute a case here after question time.

Mr Smyth: A point of order, Madam Speaker. During that tete-a-tete there was a comment, I think from Dr Bourke, about Muppets. He should withdraw.

MADAM SPEAKER: I did hear the Muppet bit, but I also heard the bit about where someone’s hand was. I probably led members there. People should be very careful. The whole stuff about Muppets and puppets et cetera has been ruled out of order in the past. It is not amusing, Mr Rattenbury. It puts me in a very difficult position because, as I said yesterday, a lot of what is ruled out of order is contextual. But to say that someone is a puppet, or a variation on the theme, says that they can be manipulated by somebody else and that they are not their own agent. Having reflected on that overnight, I consider that that is quite unparliamentary. Dr Bourke, were you the person who used the “Muppet” word?

Dr Bourke: Yes.

MADAM SPEAKER: Would you withdraw?

Dr Bourke: I withdraw.

Financial Management Act—instrument

Paper and statement by minister

MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Urban Renewal and Minister for Tourism and Events): For the information of members, I present the following paper:

Financial Management Act, pursuant to section 16—Instrument directing a transfer of appropriations from the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate to the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, including a statement of reasons, dated 4 May 2015.

I ask leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.

Leave granted.

MR BARR: As required by the Financial Management Act, I hereby table an instrument issued under section 16. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 16 of the FMA allow the Treasurer to authorise the transfer of appropriation for a service or a function to another entity following a change in responsibility for that service or function. Section 16(3) of the act requires that, within three sitting days after this authorisation, the Treasurer must present a copy of the direction and associated statement of reasons to the Assembly.


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