Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts
3:17 pm
While the Treasurer is still in the room, Mr Speaker, I have a question for you. As I raised with you during question time, Practice says:
If a Minister quotes from a document relating to public affairs, a Member may ask for it—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Hon. Members:
Honourable members interjecting—
Andrew Wallace Speaker
Manager of Opposition Business, I'll just get you to start the question again once—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts
Well, that means that he's gone, and the document's gone with him.
Andrew Wallace Speaker
Well, I can't hear you when—
Opposition members interjecting—
Order on my left! The Manager of Opposition Business.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts
Mr Speaker, I'll quote from Practice. It is relevant to whether the Treasurer should have tabled a document that he's now taken from the House, as I provided to you during question time. Page 510 of Practice says:
If a Minister quotes from a document relating to public affairs, a Member may ask for it to be presented to the House. The document must be presented unless the Minister states that it is of a confidential nature. This rule does not apply to private Members.
I put to you, Mr Speaker, that the Treasurer did not state that the document was of a confidential nature; he stated the exact opposite and then refused to table it, which is in breach of a very clear statement in Practice.
Andrew Wallace Speaker
3:18 pm
I thank the Manager of Opposition Business. I have dealt with that issue already.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Andrew Wallace Speaker
Members on my left! I have dealt with that issue.