Points of Order — Estimates Debate—Editing of Questions Submitted by Opposition Members

I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would like to raise an issue with you, which I would like you to take away and give some further consideration to. It has come to my attention that a number of select committees have, by majority, voted to edit or amend questions that were submitted by members of the Opposition for the forthcoming Estimates hearings. The committee can, of course, by majority, determine which questions it wishes to lodge. However, the only recourse that an Opposition member then has to get that information is to lodge a written parliamentary question. Ministers have, in the past, used the written parliamentary question and answer system to refer members to the Estimates or the annual review question and answer process.

The thing that I would like you to give some consideration to is the situation where members are blocked from asking a question or from asking the totality of the question they wish to ask, by majority, at a select committee and subsequently ask that question as a written parliamentary question. I would like to seek some reassurance from you that there is an obligation on the Minister to answer that question fully and not simply refer the member back to the Estimates or the annual review process.

I will certainly have a look at the point the member is raising—very seriously, in fact—but my initial reaction to the comments about amendments occurring to questions by a select committee is that it becomes a select committee decision and, therefore, if the majority of a select committee votes in one particular way, that is it. But I would be very worried if the mechanism then became an attempt to subvert the obtaining of the right information by all members of Parliament. So I will look at the matter and come back to the member.