Thursday, 31 August 2023

Rulings from the Chair

Constituency questions

The SPEAKER (14:33): Yesterday I advised the house that I would review yesterday’s constituency questions, as there were a number which were not in the correct form.

The member for South-West Coast sought an action. I therefore rule her constituency question out of order.

The member for Lowan addressed her contribution to the Minister for Health but did not ask a question. I therefore rule her constituency question out of order.

The member for Point Cook sought for the Minister for Health to provide an update. Previously Rulings from the Chair has clarified that asking a minister to provide an update is in order. However, members still need to actually ask a question. It is not sufficient to simply say, for example, ‘I ask the minister to provide an update’. That is not a question. Such a phrase could easily be changed to ‘Can the minister provide me with an update?’ I therefore rule the member for Point Cook’s constituency question out of order.

The member for Mornington asked a valid question at the beginning of his contribution but went on to ask a further question at the end of his contribution. At first glance it appears the member for Mornington attempted to restate the question, but unfortunately they can be construed as separate questions, one about a broad issue and one about a specific issue. The member for Croydon also restated his question at the end of his contribution, but in that case it was very clearly the same question. On this point I would like to suggest to members that it is unnecessary to repeat a question. One question is allowed, and it is sufficient to ask that question only once during a contribution. I therefore rule the member for Mornington’s constituency question out of order. The member for Croydon’s constituency question is in order.