House debates

Monday, 16 November 2009

Questions without Notice: Additional Answers

Kalgoorlie Electorate

3:34 pm

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

Mr Speaker, I seek the indulgence of the chair to add to an answer.

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The minister may proceed.

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

In response to a question from the member for Kalgoorlie about a motion that I have on the Notice Paper about the Nation Building and Jobs program, I can inform the member for Kalgoorlie that the following funding is coming to his electorate: Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program funding, $11.96 million; Black Spot Program funding, $2.67 million; Boom Gates program funding, $2.53 million; and Building the Education Revolution program funding for a total of 166 schools—

Photo of Barry HaaseBarry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order, I seek information: how could this be considered in any way to be an addition to an answer?

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Kalgoorlie will resume his seat.

Photo of Christopher PyneChristopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, without wishing to test the patience of the Speaker, since this lead answer on the projects in Kalgoorlie was not relevant to the question in the first place, how can it be relevant in adding to an answer to a question? The question was why Kalgoorlie was not on the list. It was not about spending in Kalgoorlie. So how can adding to an answer be relevant when answering it in this manner was not relevant in the first place?

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! The member for Braddon and the Chief Government Whip at this late stage are not helping and I cannot believe everybody is waiting around for this. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a question that was in order. As part of that question he referred to a question on the Notice Paper. That then opens the door for the minister to make references to that motion. I hope that he is now going to conclude his addition to his answer in a very short time period.

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

I am, Mr Speaker. The total number of schools in Kalgoorlie benefiting from the Building the Education Revolution is 166. The total number of projects is 426, worth $206 million—

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Mackellar will resume her seat. I have ruled on the point of order.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I have a different point of order.

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

On top of that, the nation-building program is delivering $695 million for Kalgoorlie.

Photo of Mrs Bronwyn BishopMrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order which goes to relevance. The minister, by his adding of material, is implying to the House that Kalgoorlie is in fact on the list. Whether it is on the list or not is what we need to know if he is adding to the answer. Otherwise, he is misleading the House.

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Order! There is no point of order.

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

Those opposite have a very odd sense of priorities.

Photo of Warren TrussWarren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | | Hansard source

He’s debating the question.

Photo of Harry JenkinsHarry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

He is answering the question.

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

Their obsession is whether or not something is on the list, when there is a billion dollars of funding going into the electorate of Kalgoorlie that they voted against.