Parliamentary Procedure

QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE REPLY

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (11:02): Madam Speaker, I have a point of order, and I bring to your attention the publication of answers to questions on notice that you provided and directed be published in Hansard yesterday, which pursuant to standing order 103 you as Speaker, of course, can do—and I read from the provisions of standing order 103:

After presentation of Petitions the Speaker, if satisfied that the answers are in accordance with Standing Orders, directs that a copy of the answer be supplied to the Member who asked the question and that the question and the answer be printed in Hansard.

Yesterday, a number of questions were tabled by you and, accordingly, were published in Hansard. At page 830 of the interim publication, the publication of a question and answer was provided. It was titled 'Auditor-General's Report' and was as follows:

In reply to Ms Chapman (Bragg) (8 November 2011) (First Session)

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) I am advised that this information was provided to the Hon. Rob Lucas, MLC on 9 February 2012 as part of a Freedom of Information application.

That is the information that was provided pursuant to the question on correspondence. I have an unmarked copy of what had been provided to me, which is what is consistent with what has been published. The only thing that is in addition to what was published was the word 'correspondence'. I can tell you, Madam Speaker, that I indeed did ask questions on 8 November 2011 asking the Attorney-General about correspondence between the Auditor-General and his department. They will be available in Hansard on 8 November 2011, but I confirm I did ask questions about that. Indeed, the Attorney-General took on notice my question as to the provision and tabling of correspondence. That is the answer I have received yesterday, as published; that is, I have given that information to someone else and, presumably, from that, you can go and find it.

I ask you, Madam Speaker, in consideration of whether you should authorise the publication of that answer, whether you are satisfied that it is an adequate answer to any member of parliament, but in this instance me, that we should presumably be expected to track down some other person who is not even a member of this house and not on any public record. If you are not satisfied, I ask that you indicate some ruling as to whether you will direct the Attorney-General to provide that answer to the house and, in particular, to me.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Bragg. I have not had a look at the Hansard. I have only just had one put on my desk here. I will go through this and I will get back to you later in the day on this. Thank you.