Speaker’s Rulings — Ministerial Responsibility—Origin of Documents

I just wish to read a ruling that I said I’d come back to Parliament with at the end of the week prior. Members, when the House last sat, I indicated that I would rule on the extent to which Ministers could be questioned about the origin of documents they use. In practice, a wide view is taken of the concept of ministerial responsibility. Ministers are responsible to the House for all actions taken and statements they make in their capacity as a Minister. Where they are questioned about a matter for which they are responsible, Ministers must give an informative answer. That’s not new; it’s Speaker’s ruling 174/1.

Members also raised the issue of prime ministerial responsibility. The Prime Minister is responsible to the House for all the actions of the Government that they head. However, it’s not reasonable to expect that the Prime Minister will have detailed knowledge of every matter dealt with by the Government. So while it is fine to ask the Prime Minister what they know about the origin of a document used by a Minister in an official capacity, it is reasonable for the Prime Minister to answer that they do not know. My ruling is, therefore, very much in line with the approach of my predecessors. Ministerial accountability to this House is fundamental to our form of parliamentary democracy, and I continue the expectation that Ministers address questions informatively.