House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-13 Daily Xml

Contents

TREASURY AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Finance. Following the minister's statement last week that he was 'shocked at the dysfunction in the government's finance department', did his department become dysfunctional under him or was it dysfunctional when handed over from the Treasurer?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Finance, Minister for the Public Sector) (14:55): I could make reference to standing order No. 1 and then make reference to the House of Commons direction that says that media reports cannot be used as the basis for a question because there is no guarantee that what is reported in the media is accurate. In this case, it is not and, effectively—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: —previous Speakers have ruled questions based on statements removed from media reports as being out of order. The media report is inaccurate. I did not make that statement.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Davenport.