Urgent Debates Declined — Disability Funding—Purchasing Rules

I have received a letter from the Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan seeking to debate under Standing Order 399 an announcement about purchasing rules for disability funding. This is a particular case of recent occurrence for which there is ministerial responsibility. However, I’ve listened to the answers to questions asked today and considered the matter because I have an interest in it, but I am not convinced that the time of the House should be set aside today to debate the matter. The annual review debate would be an appropriate vehicle to debate this matter since it covers the performance and current operations of departments. The Leader of the House has indicated that that debate will start in April and has called for parties to nominate which Ministers will appear before the committee of the whole House during the debate. The application is therefore declined. I call on order of the day—

Point of order, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We accept that. The concern that I have, however, is that there is still no requirement for the Government to accept the proposals from the Opposition on the topics and portfolios which will be debated during the annual review debate, so this House can’t be assured that the opportunity to debate this will be given during the annual review debate.

Well, that’s true. But the member knows also that the Business Committee will be involved in that process, and I would certainly be an advocate for the Opposition having the opportunities that they seek.