E. Previous Procedure Committee recommendations relating to Question Time

November 1986 – The standing Orders and practices which govern the conduct of Question Time
Recommendations
Action by House
Length of questions
It is recommended that standing orders be amended to require that questions be brief and confined to a single issue. (p. 28)
Time limits introduced in 2010.
Questions anticipating matters before the House
It is recommended that the prohibition on questions anticipating discussion of an order of the day or other matter be modified to exclude matters of public importance and the main or supplementary appropriation bills and in enforcing the rule the Chair have regard to the matter anticipated being brought before the House within a reasonable time but not so as to alter the practice regarding questions directed to private Members. (p. 30)
SO 100(f) which provided that questions must not anticipate discussion on an order of the day or other matter was deleted in 2006.
Questions relating to ‘friendly’ countries
It is recommended that the practices relating to reflections on governments or heads of governments other than the Queen or her representatives in Australia be discontinued in so far as they apply to both questions and debate. (p. 32)
Although recommendation not adopted formally, the attitude of successive Speakers indicates acceptance of these views (see House of Representatives Practice, 7th ed., p. 520).
Rules for questions
It is recommended that:
in view of the prohibition on questions containing argument contained in standing order 144(b) the provision that questions which seek information on matters of past history for the purpose of argument are inadmissible be removed from practice;
Recommended changes to standing orders were not adopted.
In the 2004 revision of standing orders, the provision for questions to other Members (reworded) was included in standing order 99.
standing orders be amended to make it clear that a question on the Notice Paper does not constitute a “public matter connected with the business of the House, of which a Member has charge” for the purpose of standing order 143, and
the prohibition on questions without notice which are substantially the same as questions already on the Notice Paper be retained. (p. 37)
Rules for answers
It is recommended that standing orders be amended to provide that answers to questions must be relevant, not introduce matter extraneous to the question and should not contain –
arguments, imputations, epithets, ironical expressions or
discreditable references to the House or any Member thereof or any offensive or unparliamentary expressions. (p. 45)
Standing orders were amended in 2010 to require that answers be ‘directly relevant’ to the question. There are no other rules for the content of answers.
Duration of Question Time
It is recommended that the duration of Question Time remain approximately 45 minutes but be extended until a minimum of 16 questions (excluding disallowed and supplementary questions) are asked unless major interruption occur. (p. 49)
Introduction of time limits in 2010 means that there are now typically more than 16 questions asked.
Supplementary questions
It is recommended that:
standing orders be amended to allow for one immediate supplementary question. Immediate supplementary questions would be restricted to the questioner, they must arise out of the Minister’s response, should need no preambles, should not introduce new matter and should be put in precise and direct terms without any prior statements or argument;
immediate supplementary questions be regarded as a part of one question, rather than a second question, for the purpose of the allocation of the call, and
subject to the qualifications permitting immediate supplementary questions, current provisions remain unchanged for the allocation of the call. (p. 54)
Provision giving Speaker discretion to allow supplementary questions (SO 101(b)) was deleted in 2013.
June 1992 – The standing orders governing questions seeking information
Recommendations
Action by House
Rules for questions
The committee believes that standing order 144 needs significant simplification. It has proposed that current standing order 144 be replaced with a standing order which removes many of the specific provisions which are thought to be ineffective. The new standing order would read:
Questions without notice will be concise, seek information, relate only to one subject and not contain material not necessary to the understanding of the question. (p.9)
Recommendation not adopted.
Rules for answers
The committee recommends that standing order 145 read:
The answer to a question without notice:
(a) shall be concise and confined to the subject matter of the question, and
(b) shall not debate the subject to which the question refers.
An answer to a question on notice shall be relevant to the question. (p. 15)
Standing orders were amended in 2010 to require that answers be ‘directly relevant’ to the question. There are no other rules for the content of answers.
Statement by Speaker
It is recommended that the Chair, at the commencement of a Parliament (or such other times as thought necessary) advise the House on how the standing orders affecting questions and answers will be applied, either generally or specifically. (p. 21)
Recommendation not adopted.
October 1993 – About time: Bills, questions and working hours
Recommendations
Action by House
Length of question time and supplementary questions
It is recommended that:
(a) question time continue for at least 45 minutes (or 2 consecutive 30 minute segments each sitting Monday) and until at least 16 questions (or 8 questions in each segment each Monday) have been answered, unless a motion, which may be moved without notice and by any Member, is agreed to ‘That (further) questions be placed on notice': provided that the moving of a motion to suspend standing orders to bring on other business will end question time, regardless of whether or not that motion is carried;
(a) Introduction of time limits in 2010 means that there are now typically more than 16 questions asked.
(b) the Speaker allow, to the original questioner, one immediate supplementary question in respect of each original question answered; and that supplementary questions be counted as part of the minimum number of 16 questions required each question time. (p. 25)
(b) Provision giving Speaker discretion to allow supplementary questions (SO 101(b)) was deleted in 2013.
Rostering of Ministers
It is recommended that, as a trial for two sitting periods,
(a) question time each Monday be in the form of two consecutive 30 minute segments each with a minimum of 8 questions to be asked;
(b) Ministers be rostered so that the Ministers representing each portfolio (except Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury and Finance) and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs attend to answer questions in one segment per sitting cycle. The grouping of portfolios and allocation of segments to be agreed by the Opposition and the Government;
(c) the Opposition to be able to request the presence of one additional Minister, other than the Prime Minister, per segment by informing the Speaker in writing prior to the sitting of the House on the Monday to which the request relates. (p. 27)
As a trial, Ministers were rostered during every question time for most of 1994 (not just on Mondays as recommended by Committee). Rostering of Ministers has not occurred since then.
June 1995 – Time for review: Bills, questions and working hours
Recommendations
Action by House
Amendments to rostering of Ministers trial
It is recommended that sessional order 151A be amended to provide for:
(a) the Opposition to require the presence of one additional Minister per day by informing the Leader of the House in writing prior to the sitting of the House on the day to which the requirement relates; and
(b) questions to be asked of any Minister who attends question time regardless of whether he or she is on the roster for that day, the presence of any additional Ministers to be announced to the House by the Leader of the House or other Minister at the commencement of question time. (p. 25)
Government did not accept recommendation. The sessional order was not renewed in the following Parliament.
June 1995 – Question Time in the House of Representatives: A discussion paper
No recommendations
September 1996 – The operation of SO 143: Questions to Members other than Ministers
Recommendations
Action by House
The Committee recommends that standing order 143 [now SO 99] be retained in its present form. (p.7)
SO 143 was retained.
November 2012 – Monitoring and review of procedural changes implemented in the 43rd Parliament: 4th report
No recommendations. The Committee reviewed changes to question time implemented as part of the procedural reform package introduced at the beginning of the Parliament

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About this inquiry

The Procedure Committee will inquire into and report on practices and procedures relating to question time



Past Public Hearings

27 Oct 2020: Canberra
04 Aug 2020: Canberra
31 Jul 2020: Canberra