Prime Minister "Question Time" versus President's State of Union Address

[Jervoise]

*Originally posted by Northern Piper *

Originally posted by Governor Quinn
As it is, with PMQT, the PM must approve (if I recall correctly) of all question asked by anyone other than Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative head) and Charles Kennedy (the LibDem head).

The excitement comes because, on some questions (all those that have them say “Number 1, Mr. Speaker”), they are allowed an unmonitored follow-up.

**This point illustrates that there’s considerable differences even amongst the Commonwealth countries. In the Canadian Parliament and Legislatures, PMQT isn’t as formalised as this: the Opposition does not have to reveal any of its questions in advance, and any Opposition member, not just the party leaders, can direct a question to the PM/Premier. But, they can’t require that the PM or Premier answer a particular question, even if they direct it to him/her. The PM can wave it to one of the other Cabinet ministers, if it’s more appropriate for that minister’s portfolio. (E.g. - a detailed question about the budget might be waved to the Finance Minister, or a question about the details of a Criminal Code amendment to the Justice Minister.) Or, in other cases, the Opposition might direct a question to a particular Cabinet Minister, but the PM/Premier may decide to answer it instead of the minister the question was posed to, if the PM thinks it’s important enough.

Northern Piper** has provided an (excellent) illustration of the Canadian process, so a word on Question Time in Australia.

(1) QT in the Australian Commonwealth Parliament is not the PM’s QT. Members may ask questions of any Government Minister on matters within their portfolios.

(2) Similar to Canada, questions are without notice.

(3) Questions alternate between Government members and Opposition members. The Opposition will ask a question intended to probe and embarrass; then the Government will ask of itself a “Dorothy Dixer”: an easy question designed in advance to put government policies in a favourable light. (The Minister responding will typically answer in a semi-facetious manner: “I thank my esteemed colleague for this very important question…”)

(4) QT was previously restricted to one hour each sitting day, but under the Howard government it has often been allowed to run up to 90 minutes.