Personal Explanations — Acting Ministers—Prime Minister's Prerogative

I seek leave to make a personal explanation to correct a comment I made in the House yesterday in response to a point of order at that time relating to the position of Acting Minister responsible for Ministerial Services.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to make a personal explanation on that matter. Is there any objection? There is no objection.

Yesterday in the House I said that Cabinet agreed last week that I would be the Acting Minister responsible for Ministerial Services. I should have said that the Prime Minister decided on 21 September that it would be appropriate for me to be the Minister responsible for Ministerial Services, and his staff conveyed that decision to the Cabinet Office on that day. The Cabinet Office amended the list of Ministers acting in portfolios accordingly. The question of Acting Ministers is an administrative matter, and the final decision rests with the Prime Minister.