3. CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) Link to this
to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee
What, respectively, are the most and the least amounts of notice given to a submitter for an invitation to appear before the committee on 15 October to speak to their submission on the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill?
CRAIG FOSS (Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee) Link to this
The first submitters offered hearing times on 15 October 2009 were contacted on the evening of 14 October 2009, straight after the meeting at which the committee made its decision, as a whole committee, to hear from submitters. Submitters heard on the 15th were also contacted that morning and in the afternoon for bookings that evening.
Did he, during public submissions to the committee, receive any complaints from submitters giving evidence about the short notice of their invitation to appear and give evidence before the committee?
Mr SPEAKERI do not believe that the chair of the committee is responsible for what submitters to the committee might say. He has no responsibility for that whatsoever.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I just wanted to make sure that you heard my question. I asked the member whether, as chair of the committee, during the public submissions he received complaints from submitters.
I heard the member’s question very clearly. It is not in order to ask the chair of the committee that.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I understand the reasons for that ruling? I had a look at—
The member will resume his seat. I am very happy to explain to him that the chair of the committee is not in any way responsible for what those making submissions at the committee might say, be it about the time of the warning they have been given in terms of when they might make their submission, or the contents of their submission. The chair has no responsibility whatsoever, and he cannot be questioned on that.