Business Statement 
Business Statement 
[Volume:632;Page:4481] 
Thursday 27 July 2006 
Madam Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Prayers 
. 
Business Statement 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 Next week in the House priority will be given to the third reading of the Appropriation (2006/07 Estimates) Bill including the second reading of the Imprest Supply (Second for 2006/07) Bill which is a 3-hour debate. I notice also that on the Table of the House there is a motion of no confidence in the Speaker moved by Dr Donald Brash. I will discuss with Mr Brownlee and other parties later whether and when time should be set aside to discuss that motion. For the information of the House I say that the last time such a motion was accepted for debate was I think in 1985 when it was taken in conjunction with the general debate. Of course being a member’s motion it does not necessarily automatically come up for debate. Also next week we are looking to deal with the remaining stages of the Coroners Bill the Meat Board Amendment Bill the Standards and Conformance Bill and the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Bill. The maiden statement of Charles Chauvel will take place at 5 30 p.m. on Tuesday 1 August. A State lunch will be held on Wednesday 2 August for the retiring Governor-General. 
GERRY BROWNLEE (Deputy Leader—National) 
: 
 I wonder whether the Deputy Prime Minister “shadow” Leader of the House could give us an indication at this point whether his comments relating to a notice of motion that may appear on the Order Paper next week indicate a willingness to debate that topic. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I am perfectly prepared to offer the member two options. The first is to find some time for debate next week perhaps in conjunction with the general debate which is what was done in 1985. Alternatively the motion could be moved forthwith without debate. 
Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. As the Leader of the House has just indicated I have this morning lodged with the Clerk’s Office a notice of motion which under normal circumstances would appear on the Order Paper on Tuesday. However I seek leave to move that motion forthwith. The motion reads: “That this House has no confidence in the Speaker given her ruling in the matter of privilege made out against Taito Phillip Field for the reasons that having been given the responsibility of exercising the very wide discretion under Standing Order 399 of determining matters that should be referred to the Privileges Committee of this Parliament she has chosen to exercise that discretion in such a narrow legalistic and technical manner as to make it impossible for the Privileges Committee to ascertain the truth regarding the allegations against Taito Phillip Field or to uphold and protect the standards and reputation of this Parliament.” 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) 
: 
 Is the member seeking leave to move that motion forthwith without debate or with it? If it is without debate I would have no objection; if it is with debate the Government does have other business including the first reading of a Treaty settlement bill that it wishes to deal with this afternoon. I would be happy to take the motion without debate. 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. This is a minor technical point but there is something wrong with the volume of the sound down this end of the Chamber. We can hardly hear what is going on. This is an important issue so perhaps that could be attended to. For instance Dr Brash does not have a very soft voice but I could hardly hear the motion he read out. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I would ask those who attend to those matters to check and if we all talk directly into our microphones it might also help. 
Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
: 
 In response to the Leader of the House I say that this is clearly a very serious matter and I would think it quite inappropriate to vote on it without appropriate debate. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is objection.