Points of Order — Oral Questions—Transfer of Questions, Notification

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I was advised just after 1.30 p.m. that question No. 3 to the Prime Minister had been transferred to the Minister of Revenue. This is the second time that Mr Brownlee’s office has failed to advise our office of a transferred question in time. Given the circumstances, I seek leave to have question No. 3 transferred back to the Prime Minister.

No, I am not prepared to put the leave. Firstly, I was advised at 1.26 this afternoon, so I accept the point the member is making: that with any transfer, out of courtesy to all members of the House, the decision should be made and advised to us a lot earlier than it was. I understand that on this occasion there may have been a slip-up in an office where the decision was made to transfer it, but certainly the advice was not given to me—or, clearly, to the member—early enough. But I want to just refer the member to Speaker’s ruling 169/2, which, basically, says that the question can be transferred at any moment right up until the time that it is asked. It is the Government’s prerogative to determine whether to transfer the question. I have looked at the question. I have no doubt that it can be answered satisfactorily by the Minister of Revenue, so, on that basis, I am not prepared to put the leave.

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am the acting Acting Leader of the House, and therefore a very low form of parliamentary life. I acknowledge what Mr Shaw has said. I will raise it with the office of the Leader of the House, and I will accept responsibility for it even though I know nothing about any of the circumstances.

Very, very gracious of you, sir.