Page 4694 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 28 November 1990
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It is, and always has been, our argument that clause 3, subclause (b) of this Bill before us and the earlier Bill offends, in part, the self-government Act, and is ultra vires. Clause 7 of the earlier Bill is clause 4 of the present Bill; clause 8 of the earlier Bill is clause 5 of the present Bill; clause 9 of the earlier Bill is clause 6 of the present Bill; clause 10 of the present Bill is similar to clause 7 of the earlier Bill; clause 11 of the earlier Bill is clause 10 of the present Bill; clause 12 of the earlier Bill is similar to the new clause 9, and it goes on.
Mr Speaker, on the face of it, and deferring to your decision to rule on this matter this afternoon, the Government takes the view that the standing orders are offended, as quoted, and that this Bill is out of order. Nevertheless, I will move that the debate on the Bill be adjourned.
Ms Follett: I thought that was a point of order.
MR SPEAKER: That was a point of order. If anyone else wants to speak to it, he or she may do so.
Ms Follett: We do not usually speak to a point or order.
MR SPEAKER: In certain circumstances it is quite proper.
Mr Wood: We are getting very selective rulings lately, are we not?
Mr Collaery: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Mr Wood has said that you have made a selective ruling.
Mr Wood: Like one yesterday.
Mr Collaery: There is an imputation so far as the Government is concerned. There has been no caucus between the Government and Mr Speaker about this Bill, which we are seeing for the first time.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Wood should pay more attention to standing orders and parliamentary procedure. I assume that he, of all people in this chamber, would have some knowledge in that area. For his education, I will point out to him and all other members that if a point of order is raised on a substantive issue, such as that raised by the Attorney-General, it is quite proper in all parliaments of the world to debate the point of order.
Mr Wood: Do you always allow that?
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for your observation once again, Mr Wood.
Debate (on motion by Mr Collaery) adjourned.
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