House debates Questions to the Speaker

Question Time

Thursday, 2 March 2006 House of Representatives

David Hawker

David Hawker Speaker

3:06 pm

Yesterday the member for Fraser sought clarification on a ruling made in relation to a question asked by the member for Griffith during question time. I consider the second part of the question of the member for Griffith to be frivolous. I also consider that the member was seeking the provision of additional information prior to the end of question time, which is not in accordance with usual House practice.

Kevin Rudd

Kevin Rudd Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and International Security

3:07 pm

Mr Speaker, with respect to the question to you raised yesterday by the member for Fraser, when a member asks a minister whether he is prepared to provide his answer within a given time frame, how under the standing orders could you deem that to be a frivolous matter?

David Hawker

David Hawker Speaker

I thank the member for Griffith for his question. As I have indicated, I ruled it out of order. There is no further ruling to be made. I refer him to the Practice if he wants to read about references to ‘frivolous’.