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House of Representatives                                Ch 16                                                 p 574

Debate

Subject to the general rules of debate, ¹ matters irrelevant to the motion may be debated. ² This means that the scope of debate is practically unlimited and provides the private Member with an opportunity to raise matters of his or her choosing.

Through the application of the general rules of debate a Member may not anticipate discussion of a subject which appears on the Notice Paper, but the Speaker has regard to the probability of the anticipated matter being brought before the House within a reasonable time. ³ Debates of the current session may not be revived unless the allusion is relevant to a new aspect or matter which the Member is raising. A passing reference may be made to a previous debate. ⁴ A Member may reply to matters raised in a previous debate to correct a misrepresentation by way of a personal explanation. ⁵ Remarks cannot be based on a question asked earlier in the day, but the facts may be stated without dealing with the question. ⁶ Provided that no other rules of debate are contravened, matters before State Parliaments may be discussed, ⁷ as may be activities of another Member of the Parliament. ⁸ Members have customarily advised other Members if they proposed to make remarks concerning them in the adjournment debate, although there is no formal requirement for them to do so.

See Ch. on ‘Control and conduct of debate’.

S.O. 76(a).

S.O. 77. See also Ch. on ‘Control and conduct of debate’.

H.R. Deb. (23.3.72) 1196.

H.R. Deb. (26.5.55) 1201.

H.R. Deb. (21.2.52) 256.

H.R. Deb. (25.11.53) 529-30.

H.R. Deb. (25.10.50) 1395.