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Ch8 Order of business and the sitting day / ORDER OF BUSINESS / Ordinary order of business / Ministerial statements (by leave)



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House of Representatives                                Ch 8                                                 p 254

 

Order of business and the sitting day / ORDER OF BUSINESS / Ordinary order of business

 

Ministerial statements (by leave)

By leave of the House Ministers may make statements concerning government policy or other matters for which they have ministerial responsibility. Ministerial statements are often made after the presentation of documents, however they may also be made at other times. An opposition spokesperson is usually granted leave to make a statement on the same matter or a motion may be moved ‘That the House take note of the document’, on which debate may take place either at that time, at a later hour or at a later sitting. 1 On occasions leave has not been sought by the Government 2 or has been refused by the Opposition 3 and standing orders have been suspended to enable a statement to be made. Ministerial statements are not an everyday occurrence and their frequency has decreased in recent years.

For further detail, including comment on the need for leave, see ‘Statements by leave’ in Chapter on ‘Control and conduct of debate’.’



VP 1978-80/1298; VP 1998-2001/1284.



VP 1978-80/40.



VP 1978-80/372.