House debates

Monday, 23 August 2021

Questions to the Speaker

Questions Without Notice

3:31 pm

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I have question to you, Mr Speaker, and it goes to the functioning of the parliament and it goes further to a question that I previously raised referring to House of Representatives Practice, which says that ministers should be available during question time. I would ask you to consider that further and whether advice could be given to those ministers who we understand—there might be some reason why—can't attend. House of Representatives Practice, at page 549, is very clear:

… it has been traditionally expected that all Ministers who are Members of the House, unless sick, overseas or otherwise engaged on urgent public business, will be present at Question Time.

Could I ask you to confirm whether it's possible if ministers attend virtual parliament—a large number of members of the Labor Party are actually doing their job and attending parliament—

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