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Title

Ch15 Questions / RULES GOVERNING QUESTIONS / Form and content of questions / References to debates and committee proceedings

Database

House Practice

Date

01-05-2005

Source

House of Reps

Parl No.

41

Chapter

Questions

Chapter No.

Chapter 15

Page

540

Section No.

 

System Id

procedural/practcer/chapter15.25.doc


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Ch15 Questions / RULES GOVERNING QUESTIONS / Form and content of questions / References to debates and committee proceedings



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House of Representatives                                Ch 15                                                 p 540

 

Questions / RULES GOVERNING QUESTIONS / Form and content of questions

 

References to debates and committee proceedings

References in questions to debates in the current session, concluded or adjourned, are out of order. 1 The rule does not preclude questions on the subject matter of such debates, which may be so broad as to cover, for example, the country’s whole foreign policy, but rather precludes reference to the debate itself and to specific statements made in it. The Chair has interpreted this rule as applying equally to debates in the Senate. 2 Questions mentioning decisions of the Senate are permitted where they are connected with a Minister’s area of responsibility. 3

It has also been held to be out of order to ask a question repetitive of a matter already determined by the House, 4 or which reflects upon any vote of the House. 5

Questions must not refer to proceedings of a committee not reported to the House. 6 However, no exception has been taken to questions merely coinciding in subject matter with current committee inquiries. 7 The following private ruling of President Cormack has equal relevance to the House:

. . . if I were to rule that questions should not be allowed on any matters which may be under examination by committees, such a rule strictly applied would operate to block questions on a very wide variety of subjects.

The practice which I follow, and which I shall continue to follow unless otherwise directed by the Senate, is to allow questions seeking information on public affairs for which there is ministerial responsibility provided that such questions are not of a nature which may attempt to interfere with a committee’s work or anticipate its report. 8



S.O. 100(e); H.R. Deb. (21.5.75) 2545; H.R. Deb.(25.8.76) 525; H.R. Deb. (26.6.96) 2788-9.



H.R. Deb. (20.8.69) 431.



H.R. Deb. (31.8.2000) 19867.



H.R. Deb. (16.11.78) 2892.



S.O. 74; See also May , 23rd edn, p. 352.



S.O. 100(e).



E.g. H.R. Deb. (27.10.87) 1482; H.R. Deb. (16.2.88) 13; H.R. Deb. (8.2.94) 505, 507, 508.



Odgers , 6th edn, p. 309.