Outgoing Federal Senate President Alan Ferguson has criticised Question Time as a ‘farce’ that does not work as well as in the parliaments of other countries.

Mr Ferguson said that after 16 years in the Federal Parliament's Question Time, he believes it doesn’t work as well as in other countries including Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

“We have a situation where an enormous amount of time is spent each sitting day by ministerial staff and department employees, including senior public servants, preparing answers to questions for ministers in both houses - many of whom will never be asked any questions,” he said in a statement.

Mr Ferguson is calling for a time limit of two minutes imposed on the answers, prior notice for all questions and more follow-up questions.

Questions should be placed on notice, which would require all ministers to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of their subject matter, he says.

He is also concerned that government ministers from both sides of politics can simply avoid answering questions.

Mr Ferguson is to be replaced as Senate President this week by Queensland Labor Senator John Hogg.

[Mon 25/08/2008 02:45:03]

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