Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance in relation to the content of ministerial statements. The standing orders are really quite specific that ministerial statements are supposed to be specific about government policy. Former Speaker Smith had this to say: 'The purpose of a ministerial statement is to announce government policy or matters for which the minister concerned is responsible. There is no flexibility, tolerance or capacity to talk about anything other than that. It is a ministerial statement; it is not a political statement.'

The opposition seeks to know whether, under your regime as Speaker, that policy will be maintained. The standing orders are very clear and it's unfortunate some of the things that have been said. We've listened respectfully. We haven't sought to take a point of order during the course of the ministerial statement, but I do seek your guidance, Mr Speaker, either now or as soon as possible. There is a well-accepted set of rules as to what can be said in a ministerial statement. As former Speaker Smith said: 'It is not a political statement.'

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