VoNC Notice requirements

Acting Clerk of Parliament, Kala Aufa clarified that the VoNC motion will need to meet certain requirements in the constitution before it is put on the Notice Paper.

The office of the Clerk of Parliament has clarified that with parliament adjourned, the Private Business Committee, chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, could not sit the following day Wednesday 8^th May to discuss the motion of the Vote of No Confidence.

The Private Business Committee only meets on Wednesdays, when parliament sitting continues, to examine all Private Business motions.

To determine whether the terms of the motion are a matter of national importance. 

The seven requirements of a Notice of Motion of No Confidence are;

1. The motion is expressed to be a motion of no confidence in a named Prime Minister as stipulated under section 145 (1) (a) of the constitution;
2. The motion must state the name of the alternate Prime Minister under section 145 (2) (a);
3. The Motion must name the person and contain the signature of the person moving the motion as stated on the Standing Order 130 (2);
4. The Motion must name the person and contain the signature of the person seconding the motion as mentioned in the Standing Order 130 (2);
5. The Motion must name the persons and contain the signatures of not less than one-tenth of the Members of Parliament that support the motion as stated under section 145 (1) (b) of the constitution;
6. The Mover and seconder of the motion must not sign as supporters of the motion; and
7. The Motion must state the correct name of electorate and also sign on the appropriate column in the proposal form.

Acting Parliamentary Counsel Richard Whitchurch said once the technical aspects of the motion of the VoNC is good and sound, it is put on Notice Paper by the Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 131.

It is given 7 days minimum from when it is put on ‘Notices’, before it can be dealt with on the floor of parliament.