Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I'm presuming that everything has been concluded with respect to those previous bills and we're at a gap in business. I move:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Melbourne from moving the following motion immediately—

That standing order 104(a) be amended to read: An answer must directly answer the question.

People want governments to answer questions, especially during something called 'question time'—not to dodge the question, not to talk about something else, not to answer a question that they wish they were asked but to answer the question. Ministers have huge power. We have been trying all week to get a straight answer about why the minister for environment is approving coal projects. Each time we ask the question—we've got a question time coming up again today, which is why it's critical to get an answer to this—

See this speech in context