Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bill

I move, That the Committee divide the bill into the Public Finance Amendment Bill, the State Sector Amendment Bill (No 4), the Crown Entities Bill, and the State-Owned Enterprises Amendment Bill, pursuant to Supplementary Order Paper 316.

A party vote was called for on the question that the motion be agreed to.

I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. I note that there was a hesitation on the part of the junior whip in casting two votes on behalf of the Progressives. He was unsure whether he was casting, or had the authority to cast, votes in favour, so I seek clarification with regard to that. There was a hesitation, and I see that he is on the phone at the moment. Maybe that matter can be clarified.

I say to the honourable member that it is entirely up to the members themselves as to how they cast the vote.

I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. I seek your clarification on how members can vote. I am unaware of whether members in casting votes can cast a vote for the time being or for now. Votes are cast on the vote, but the Labour member in casting the votes for the Progressive party said: “Two votes, at least for now.”, or words to that effect. I do not believe that one can record votes that are not actually made definitively with regard to the question at hand.

I say that a member must just cast the vote. So if the member did say that, I would ask him to desist in future and to make sure votes are cast correctly.

I raise a point of order, Mr Chairperson. The point I brought up earlier, which my colleague Dr Smith has reiterated, is whether the junior whip had authority, considering the hesitation he showed at the time, to cast that vote when he said: “I hope in the meantime.” Did that mean that he had authority to cast it, and that the vote was in order?

I am happy to clear it up for the Committee. I have the authority to cast two Progressive votes in favour of the motion. We were slightly distracted at the time by the late arrival of another member, and that may have been why the members thought I was hesitating on the Progressive vote. There are two Progressive votes in favour.

I thank the honourable member for clarifying the situation. It is much appreciated.