PM Transcripts

Transcripts from the Prime Ministers of Australia

McMahon, William

Period of Service: 10/03/1971 - 05/12/1972
Release Date:
26/08/1971
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
2462
Document:
00002462.pdf 1 Page(s)
Released by:
  • McMahon, William
FAILURE TO SUSTAIN A QUORUM - STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR WILLIAM MCMAHON

FOR PRESS: PM. No. 84/ 1971.
FAILURE TO SUSTAIN A QUORUM
State ment by the Prime Minister, Mr. William McMahon
It is the responsibility of the Government
Parties to have sufficient Members in the House to maintain quorums
when the division bells are rung, in order that the business of the
Hose should proceed.
I am informed that this afternoon on the ringing of the bells,
the House was two short of a quorum.
The fact that there were enough Government Members in
the Pajliamentary precincts to sustain a quorum was not a satisfactory
reason for their failure to promptly answer the bells.
I regret that the quorum was not maintained and I treat the
matter extremely seriously both from the point of view of the business
of the House and of sustaining the prestige and authority of the
Parliament. I take the matter so seriously that I have instructed that
this be the first item on the Business Paper of the Joint Parties at
the next meeting.
CANBERRA, 26 August, 1971.

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