Parliamentary Correction: LAN PHAM Addresses Misattribution of Quotation

During a session on Thursday last week, Green Party member LAN PHAM sought permission to correct an error made during oral questions. The issue involved misattributing a statement originally made by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to the Minister for the Environment.

The correction was addressed when PHAM raised a point of order with the Speaker, requesting leave to make a personal explanation regarding the mistake in a supplementary question posed on Thursday, associated with question No. 8. The statement, incorrectly attributed to the Minister, warned that "an environmental problem deferred today can be both an environmental liability and a fiscal risk that will have to be faced in the future." PHAM clarified that this quote should have been credited to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

The Speaker, ensuring procedural correctness, granted leave for PHAM to make the personal explanation after confirming there were no objections from other members. This allowed PHAM to formally apologize to the Minister for the Environment for the misattribution error.

This incident underscores the importance of accuracy in parliamentary discourse and highlights the procedures available to address such errors. By correcting the record, LAN PHAM emphasized the responsibility of members to ensure the precision of their statements and attributed quotes.

The session demonstrated the role of procedural mechanisms like points of order in maintaining the integrity of debates within the House. Such processes are essential for upholding standards of parliamentary practice, ensuring that discussions remain accurate and trustworthy.