David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Melbourne Ports asked me about a delay in publication in Hansard of an answer to a question in writing to the Special Minister of State. I can inform the House that the answer was published in the Hansard of 9 August 2007. Firstly, I make it clear that no pressure was exerted in relation to the publication of the answer. Secondly, I am advised that at present it is not possible to publish all answers received during a long break on the first sitting day after the break. This is because the software currently used for Hansard makes it very slow to process large documents, especially those containing tables. Publishing all answers on the first day after a long break could delay the issuing of the next daily Hansard. I can further inform the House that the delay in publication of answers to questions in writing after extended breaks has been of concern for some time. The Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services are considering options for speeding up the process. This may involve modifications to the Hansard software or publication of a separate edition of Hansard containing only answers to questions in writing.