If a minister takes a question 'on notice' during Question Time how long do they have to answer and is it published?

Hi Paul, thanks for your question. You are right, sometimes a minister is asked a question in Question Time which they cannot immediately answer. If this happens, the question can be taken on notice, meaning the minister will respond later in writing. 

There is no set time in which questions must be answered. However, if the question hasn’t been answered within 30 days (in the Senate) or 60 days (in the House of Representatives) the minister can be asked for an explanation. Once the written answer is prepared by the minister, it is published in Hansard – the official written record of what is said in the Australian Parliament.  

Ministers can also be asked questions on notice outside of Question Time. These are written questions to a minister from any member of Parliament, usually seeking detailed information. Questions on notice are included on the Notice Paper – the list of all business before the Senate or House of Representatives. Ministers answers to these questions are also published in Hansard.