Title page
Contents
Foreword 3
Abbreviations 10
Membership of the Committee 11
Terms of Reference 13
List of Recommendations 14
1. Introduction 17
Introduction 17
Conduct of the inquiry 18
Acknowledgements 18
Structure of the report 19
2. History and background of Question Time 20
Rules relating to Question Time 21
A brief history of the standing orders 22
Previous inquiries into Question Time 25
Question Time in other legislatures 26
3. A dynamic situation 28
Evidence to the Committee 28
Current perceptions of Question Time 29
Purpose of Question Time 34
An accountability mechanism 35
A forum in which to seek information 37
Political advantage 38
Comment 38
Culture, behaviour and visibility 39
Access to Question Time 39
The public face of the House 41
Culture and change 43
The complexity of the rules and the role of the Speaker 45
Comment 48
4. Improving Question Time: Better accountability 50
Ministerial accountability and effectiveness of Question Time 50
Questions from government Members 53
Standing orders and practice 54
Inquiry evidence 55
Alternative policies or approaches 60
Ministerial statements 61
Other parliaments 62
Comment 64
Supplementary questions 65
Comment 67
Portfolio questions/Prime Minister's Question Time 67
Use of the Federation Chamber 68
Comment 69
Constituency questions 70
Comment 71
Balloting/rostering of questioners 71
Comment 73
Questions from the public 74
Comment 76
Other ministers answering questions directed to the Prime Minister 76
Comment 77
Questions in advance 78
Comment 79
5. Improving Question Time: More effective rules 80
Comment 82
Better, more relevant, answers 82
Relevance 83
Comment 85
Balancing the rules for questions and answers 85
Time limits for questions and answers 87
Current standing orders and practice 87
Increasing vs decreasing time limit for questions 88
Equal time limits for all Members 89
Comment 91
Increasing vs decreasing time limit for answers 91
Comment 93
Length of Question Time 93
Current standing orders and practice 93
Inquiry evidence 94
Comment 96
Addressing disorderly behaviour/penalties 96
A note on robust debate 97
Comment 99
Stronger rules/code of conduct/penalties 99
Comment 102
6. Improving Question Time: A better insight to Parliament 104
Use of mobile phones during Question Time 106
Comment 107
The timing of Question Time 108
Comment 109
Other business at 2 pm 109
Current practice 109
Comment 110
7. Conclusion: Question Time and beyond 112
Concluding remarks 113
Appendix 116
A. Submissions 116
B. Public hearings and witnesses 119
C. List of additional documents 121
D. List of exhibits 122
E. Previous Procedure Committee recommendations relating to Question Time 123
F. Public Survey Questions 132
G. Public survey: responses to background questions 135
H. Members survey questions 137
Table 2.1. Jurisdictional comparison of Question Time practices adopted by the Lower House of other Westminster legislatures 27
Table 3.1. Live broadcasting of proceedings on ABC Radio 40
Table 3.2. ABC Question Time live television broadcast-average audience 41
Figure 3.1. Top four themes in responses to Question 10 of the public survey: Do you have any suggestion about how Question Time could be improved? 30
Figure 3.2. Top four themes in response to Question 9 of the public survey: What would you like the House to accomplish through Question Time? 35
Figure 5.1. Responses to Question 3 of the public survey: Views on length of time for opposition Members to ask a question (currently 30 seconds) 89
Figure 5.2. Responses to Question 4 of the public survey: Views on length of time for cross-bench Members to ask a question (currently 45 seconds) 90
Figure 5.3. Responses to Question 5 of the public survey: Views on length of time for ministers to answer a question (currently three minutes) 92
Figure 5.4. Responses to Question 2 of the public survey: Views on duration of Question Time (currently around 70 minutes) 95
Table G.1. How often respondents followed Question Time (Question 11) 135
Table G.2. Age of respondents to the public survey (Question 12) 136