Save Search
    Prev   Next   Return to results listPrint ListEmail Document Link

Title

Ch2 House, Government and Opposition / THE (OFFICIAL) OPPOSITION / Role of the Opposition

Database

House Practice

Date

01-05-2005

Source

House of Reps

Parl No.

41

Chapter

House, Government and Opposition

Chapter No.

Chapter 02

Page

79

Section No.

 

System Id

procedural/practcer/chapter02.42.doc


Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
Previous Fragment    Next Fragment
Ch2 House, Government and Opposition / THE (OFFICIAL) OPPOSITION / Role of the Opposition



Download WordDownload Word

House of Representatives                                Ch 2                                                 p 79

 

House, Government and Opposition / THE (OFFICIAL) OPPOSITION

 

Role of the Opposition

A primary function of the whole House, through its role of scrutiny and criticism, is to exercise an oversight of the actions of the Government. In modern times the Opposition has a critical role in this and, thus, the functions of the Opposition have become identified and linked with the role and more important functions of the House. These functions include:

  • unmaking the Government—the Opposition, by definition, seeks to defeat a Government or cause a Government to resign. Theoretically, it could be said that an Opposition endeavours to achieve this by persuading government supporters to accept its viewpoint but, in reality, it looks to a general election for defeat of the Government and endeavours to achieve this by public persuasion;

  • scrutiny of, criticism of, and suggestion of improvements to, legislation and financial proposals;

  • examination of expenditure and public accounts;

  • seeking information on and clarification of government policy (principally questions with and without notice);

  • surveillance, appraisal and criticism of government administration;

  • ventilating grievances;

  • petitioning; and

  • examination of delegated legislation.

    • While all private Members are to some extent involved in such functions as petitions, grievances, questions, and participation in committee work, the effective performance of the functions listed above is largely dependent on a vigilant, industrious and organised Opposition. Members supporting the Government are able to play an effective part in this parliamentary process but the Opposition may be expected to do so and to articulate, for example, the views of various groups within the community.

    While government business dominates the agenda and the time of the House, the Opposition has the opportunity to express its views on all issues debated. The proced ures of the House are based on the unquestioned premise that government and non-government Members have a claim to equal speaking time in debates and that the call of the chair to speak (or to ask questions) should alternate between government and non-government Members. In addition, the Opposition is not without opportunity to initiate debate on subjects of its own choosing. Most discussions of matters of public importance are on topics proposed by the Opposition. Opposition Members may use the private Members’ business procedures and the other opportunities to raise matters which are open to all private Members. The Opposition is also able to move censure motions or to move to suspend standing orders to debate matters. 1 Outside the Chamber of the House, opposition Members serve on all committees and their views are taken account of in the committees’ reports. 2

    Fair, democratic and efficient parliamentary government calls for:

  • the provision of reasonable parliamentary time for opposition purposes;

  • the protection of the rights of minorities in the House by the Speaker;

  • the provision of information and resources 3 (to reduce the wide gap in information availability between Government and Opposition); and

  • the provision of procedural advice and drafting assistance when necessary.

    • There are two points relating to the role of the Opposition which require qualification. First, there is normally a good deal of co-operation between the parties in dealing with business, and in arranging the program of the House, so that good use is made of the time available. Secondly, its role is not only one of criticism but, at times, it also offers agreement, assistance or improvements to the actions and policies of the Government in the interests of the people and the nation. Nevertheless, despite this very necessary qualification, there is more than a grain of truth in the proposition that ‘We rely for good government, not on the wisdom and probity of the House, but on the adversary relationship between the government and the opposition’. 4



    That censure motions are invariably unsuccessful, and opposition attempts to suspend standing orders often so, is beside the point—the matter of concern is either raised or publicly highlighted as one that a Government is reluctant to debate.



    If not, they have the opportunity to add dissenting reports.



    Staff assistance to the Leader of the Opposition, provided at government expense, has increased especially since the period of the ALP Government of 1974-75.



    J. Stewart, The Canadian House of Commons , Montreal, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1977, p. 168.