Speaker’s Rulings — Questions for Oral Answer—Phrasing of Questions

I was asked to reflect on a ruling I gave on Tuesday during question time, when I ruled out of order the second part of a question by the Hon Bill English. The part of the question that I ruled out of order reads: “… will he continue to obstruct the Official Information Act, like the civil servants in the Immigration Service did?”. I said that the member could not impute improper conduct to another member by saying that he did not observe the Official Information Act. I then allowed the member to rephrase his question.

I stand by my ruling. It is out of order in a question to accuse a member of obstructing the Official Information Act, and then to draw a parallel with officials who have been severely criticised in an Ombudsman’s report on that very ground. It was also unnecessary for the member to have asked his question in that way. I note that he successfully rephrased his question when I gave him the opportunity to do. I have to say that I do not consider that the member’s offence was very serious, which was why I gave him another chance. The Speaker has to make a number of snap judgments during question time. I went back over this one because I was asked to do so by a senior member, but I would prefer to regard these incidents as closed once the House passes on to the next question.