One of the more important functions of the House is its critical review function. This includes scrutiny of the Executive Government, bringing to light issues and perceived deficiencies or problems, ventilating grievances, exposing, and thereby preventing the Government from exercising, arbitrary power, and pressing the Government to take remedial or other action. Questions are a vital element in this function.
It is fundamental in the concept of responsible government that the Executive Government be accountable to the House. The capacity of the House of Representatives to call the Government to account depends, in large measure, on its knowledge and understanding of the Government’s policies and activities. Questions without notice and on notice (questions in writing) play an important part in this quest for information.
Some historical features
Duration of Question Time
Number of questions
Allocation of the call
Supplementary questions
Questioners
Private Members
Ministers
Parliamentary Secretaries
Speaker
Direction of Questions
To Ministers
Rostering of Ministers
To Parliamentary Secretaries
To private Members
To committee chairs, etc
To the Speaker
Length of questions
Form and content of questions
To relate to Minister’s public responsibilities
Statutory authorities
Questions to seek factual information or press for action
Debate, argument, etc.
Inferences, etc.
References to debates
References to committee proceedings
Information, comment, etc. in questions
References to newspaper reports, etc.
Questions seeking opinions
Announcement of government policy
Questions regarding persons
Questions concerning the Crown
The sub judice convention
Language
Repetition of questions
Question without notice similar to question on Notice Paper
Personal interest
Questions requiring detailed response
Notice of question
Form and content
Printing of questions on Notice Paper
Removal of questions from Notice Paper
No obligation to answer
Answers to questions put to Ministers representing Senate Ministers
Answers to questions without notice
Addition to or correction of an answer
Content of answers and relevance
Length of answers
Answers and the authority of the Chair
Answers to questions in writing
Unanswered questions