Page 3224 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 13 November 2007
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speech, normally on a formal motion of a member of the opposition executive.
In this place, as we know, each member of the opposition executive has frontbench responsibilities, and routinely they are the people who are most interested in the bills which come before the place. So it has always been rather routine to call them. But, Dr Foskey, I note that on one other occasion—I think it was on the Electricity (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Bill—you received the call.
Dr Foskey: Probably Mr Mulcahy refrained from standing.
Mr Mulcahy: You jumped up ahead of me.
MR SPEAKER: Possibly. I do not know; I do not remember it. In any event, it is my intention to try and be fair but to also acknowledge that the opposition has a long recognised place in—
Dr Foskey: And so, indeed, has the crossbench.
MR SPEAKER: Let me finish, please. The opposition has a long-recognised place in legislatures around the Westminster system. So, too, have opposition crossbench members and independents in this place. I will do my best to be fair in giving the call but I ask members to acknowledge that there are some longstanding practices about these matters which exist in these places and which are also routinely recognised by bodies like the Remuneration Tribunal in the allocation of responsibilities.
You then went on to something else. I draw that to your attention, Mr Speaker, in relation to the normal practice and in relation to the call on these matters. Might I say, we have other practices here. For example, no doubt in an MPI this afternoon the opposition will speak, the government will speak, Dr Foskey will—
MR SPEAKER: Could you let me know why you are drawing it to my attention? What do you want me to do?
Mr Stefaniak: Basically, the normal practice is to give the opposition the call, and I just note that exchange on 3 May. I simply ask you to give the opposition the call, Mr Speaker, which is the normal practice.
MR SPEAKER: My recollection of it is that Dr Foskey rose, and there was nobody else on their feet, and I gave her the call. She moved to adjourn the debate and, therefore, gets the call today to resume debate.
Mr Stefaniak: I quote the Hansard, where Mr Mulcahy says, “You jumped up ahead of me.” He maintains that he was on his feet, too, and it is the practice. I draw that to your attention and I seek your ruling on that, Mr Speaker. Normal practice is to give the opposition the call. Might I say, if there is some particular reason a crossbench member wants the call, they can discuss that with the opposition. I recall agreeing with Ms Dundas in the previous Assembly that she should get the call against the normal practice. I just mention the normal practice, which you, yourself, referred to.
MR SPEAKER: Just hold on for a moment and I will consult with the Clerk.
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