House debates

Thursday, 3 November 2011

Questions to the Speaker

3:22 pm

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

Mr Speaker, having been here for 18½ years, I believe—but I could be wrong—that the second reading speeches of ministers are relied upon by the courts in order to determine what the parliament intended by a bill. My question to you is: if the second reading speech says something that the bill does not do, how can the courts rely on that to determine the will of the parliament?

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

I will not enter into this. Another point has yet been made.