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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-09-24 Daily Xml
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Land Tax

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:30): Thank you, sir. My question is to you. Why did you feel it necessary yesterday to clarify your intentions when exercising a deliberative vote on land tax legislation given the established precedent?

The SPEAKER (14:31): I thank the member for West Torrens for his question. What I might do is take the opportunity to confirm that I have put on the record that what I will do by convention is to preserve the status quo in any vote where I am called on to break an equality of votes in my role as Speaker. I am quite happy to refer to certain texts that talk to that matter. Firstly, I could refer to Blackmore's Practice of the House of Assembly, page 97, where it states:

…the recognised principle is for the Chair so to give a casting vote as not thereby to make the decision of the House final.

There is also another reference in Erskine May where, in the 25th edition at page 471, it talks about the decisions of successive Speakers. While they may not always have been consistent, it is acknowledged that three principles have emerged that have guided successive Speakers when casting a vote. The three principles are, namely:

1. that the Speaker should always vote for further discussion, where this is possible…

2. that, where no further discussion is possible, decisions should not be taken except by majority…

3. that a casting vote on an amendment to a bill should leave the bill in its existing form.

I can also say that I have spoken to the federal Speaker, Tony Smith, who has been very wise in his counsel on this matter. I don't wish to elaborate further in terms of any specific bill. I don't want to postulate a state of affairs that might exist or not exist in the future.

What I will say is that obviously this is a very serious role. My integrity in the role and impartiality in the role I take very seriously, and I think for good reason. Like Speakers before me, I will certainly be guided by these principles when I am called upon to cast my vote when presiding over proceedings of the house.

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