Points of Order — Replies to Written Questions—Adequacy

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I raise it with you in relation to questions for written answer No. 12723, and Nos. 12732 to 12805 inclusive. In all those cases I have asked written questions of Ministers, to indicate the number of employees in each Crown entity, State-owned enterprise, and department of State for which they hold ministerial responsibility. In each case I have received an identical response—now 29 in number—that indicates I should go to the organisation’s annual report, seek the information through its financial review process, or wait for the State Services Commission’s human resources survey that will come out later in the year. In relation to each of the processes nominated in the answer there is the delay of at least weeks, and potentially of months.

I put it to you that if that standard of answer is acceptable in response to a question that simply seeks, without any great difficulty, a factual answer as to the number of employees in each entity for which those Ministers hold accountability, then we will have a very poor time in holding Ministers accountable in this House. There was one answer only with a direct response in terms of the number of employees in each entity for which ministerial or similar responsibility was held. That was the answer you gave as Speaker, and therefore as the person responsible for the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Office of the Ombudsmen, and one or two other entities. I would like you to look at the adequacy of the other answers, and to give your serious consideration to whether the Ministers concerned should be directed to give more fulsome and helpful responses than has been the case. In essence, I ask you to direct Ministers of the Crown to meet the exemplary standards set by your good self in responding to questions from members of this House.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Of course, I answer on my behalf, and not on anyone else’s. The member has written to me. I am still looking at the matter, and he will get his response.