Thursday, 16 November 2023

Rulings from the Chair

Constituency questions

The SPEAKER (14:39): I have reviewed the constituency questions from Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday the member for Preston sought an action from the Minister for Education. I therefore rule his question out of order. On Wednesday both the member for Murray Plains and the member for Polwarth sought actions from the Treasurer. I therefore rule their questions out of order.

Annabelle Cleeland: I raise a point of order, Speaker, regarding overdue responses to questions on notice. I am currently waiting on 35 overdue questions on notice. It would be great if the ministers for housing, early childhood and pre-prep, environment, transport and infrastructure, public transport, racing, emergency services, energy and resources, water, treaty and First People, WorkSafe and the TAC, roads and road safety, and skills and TAFE, the Attorney-General and the Treasurer could all please send responses soon. One in particular I would like to point out is question 256 directed to the Minister for Housing, similar to questions we heard today, which is now 208 days overdue. The list of questions is 256, 508, 509, 510, 512, 513, 571, 572, 573, 581, 628 –

The SPEAKER: In the interests of time, member for Euroa, would you provide the list to the clerks, please.

Annabelle Cleeland: I can. Thank you so much for that, because there is a list.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, I bring to the house’s attention question 365 to the Minister for Health, which was asked on 5 October and due on 4 November, and question 252 to the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples. It was asked on 3 August. It is well overdue; it was due on 2 September. I ask the Speaker to investigate those and provide a prompt response to the constituents who are affected by those questions.

Tim Bull: On a point of order, Speaker, I want to also raise some overdue questions. The first two are adjournments – adjournment 293 to the Minister for the Environment and adjournment 343 to the Minister for Emergency Services. I will just quickly run through these questions – 132, 237, 386, 387, 421, 422, 434, 465, 466, 536, 540 and 601. Some of those are 10 months overdue.

Tim Read: On a point of order, Speaker, I have got five overdue questions on notice and two overdue constituency questions. I am happy to provide the numbers to the Clerk.