Members have the opportunity to state their overall views on the proposed legislation. The role of the opposition is to carefully scrutinise proposals that are brought forward by government and, where we find fault, to offer amendment, to suggest change and, failing that, to strenuously oppose the legislation that we disagree with. While the role of the opposition might at first appear to be negative, it is actually one of the most positive aspects of our parliamentary democracy. Ours is a system where the opposition has full, rights to openly disagree with the government, to offer its alternatives and to attempt to defeat government legislation that it opposes. These attributes make our system an open and healthy one, a system that has stood the test of time.
Parliamentary debates includes question periods and detailed examination of the government.
This is a key opportunity for the opposition to hold the government to account. Once the bill is read a second time and voted on, it is then referred to a Committee of the Whole House for consideration. The Deputy Speaker serves as the Chair of Committee of the Whole. Committee of the Whole is a slightly different version of the Legislature, one with rules that allow more leeway for debate. It is used to examine every clause of a bill once it has passed second reading.