Reform of Question Time and Presiding Officers for Greater Impartiality to strengthen democratic accountability in the Australian Parliament by eliminating scripted “Dorothy Dixers” during Question Time and ensuring the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate serve as truly non-partisan presiding officers.

Elimination of Dorothy Dixers in Question Time

Questions without notice during Question Time in both the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be reserved exclusively for non-government members (Opposition, crossbench, and independents).

1. Government members may not use Question Time to ask pre-arranged or planted questions of ministers from their own party.
2. Government members will be restricted to a total of three questions.
3. Crossbench members will be afforded a minimum of three questions, pooled between them.
4. To allow the government to highlight achievements, a dedicated daily slot for Ministers’ Statements (up to two minutes per minister) shall be introduced.
5. Question Time must occur on each sitting day and run for a minimum of 90 minutes, in accordance with ordinary parliamentary protocol.
6. Intentional avoidance of relevance by a minister will result in that minister being required to formally respond in writing, via the Clerk, with a response explicitly addressing the question.

This ensures Question Time focuses on genuine scrutiny and accountability, reducing partisan grandstanding.

Non-Partisan Presiding Officers

The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall be elected by secret ballot of all Members and Senators.

1. Upon election, if the successful candidate is a member of a political party, that candidate must resign from party membership and commit to serving as an independent for the duration of their term.
   
   
2. Presiding officers shall not attend party room meetings or engage in partisan activities while in office.
   
   
3. In line with Westminster traditions and recent state precedents (e.g. South Australia’s 2021 constitutional changes requiring an independent Speaker), this reform promotes impartial rulings and restores public trust in parliamentary proceedings.
   
   

These changes address longstanding criticisms of Question Time as performative rather than accountable, and perceptions of bias in parliamentary presiding roles.