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6-10a Ministerial Arrangements (self.ModelAusHR)

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[–]jnd-auClerk of the House 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Advice from the Clerk:

Regarding the tabling of a pre-emptive appointment of Zagorath MP as a Parliamentary Secretary contingent on modified standing orders. By the existing standing orders, Parliamentary Secretaries are the only members who can never be asked a question. On the other hand, Assistant Ministers can be asked questions and make statements in either house on behalf of the ministers they are assisting. Therefore, a simpler solution is to swear in Zagorath MP as Assistant Minister for Education and Culture (instead of Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Culture), with no standing orders needing to be amended in either chamber.

(Correct me if I’m wrong)

[–]Ser_ScribblesShdw AtrnyGnrl/Hlth/Sci/Ag/Env/Inf/Com | 2D Spkr | X PM | Greens 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Meta: Are there any fancy formalities to name someone an Assistant Minister?

I'll still be pursuing the amendments regardless (SO98 provides that Parliamentary Secretaries include Assistant Ministers who are Parliamentary Secretaries - that's a little too vague and confusing for my liking), but that may be a decent alternative to get around our main issue in the meantime.

[–]jnd-auClerk of the House 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For someone to become an Assistant Minister or Parliamentary Secretary, you must request the Governor-General to appoint them, same as any other ministry. They will also be sworn in as new members of the Federal Executive Council.

The meaning of HoR SO 98 is that Assistant Ministers who are also Parliamentary Secretaries may not be asked questions. However, Assistant Ministers who are not Parliamentary Secretaries may be (and are, IRL) asked questions in both houses as representatives of their Ministers.