Page 5882 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 7 December 2011
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Mr Hanson: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I invite your ruling. The minister is inviting interjections from across the floor, speaking directly to the members of the opposition, inviting a comment from the other side, and then saying—and this will be in Hansard—that that indicates that there is agreement with him on a particular matter. In accordance with standing order 42, or any other standing order inviting the minister to address directly through you—
Members interjecting—
Mr Hanson: I am seeking your guidance here. It puts the opposition in a difficult position where essentially a minister is calling on an interjection; otherwise his claim would indicate a certain decision being taken by the opposition. I seek any ruling that you may have on that matter.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hanson. You raise a fair point. Minister, I would ask you not to invite interjections.
MR BARR: Thank you. I have—
MR SPEAKER: Sorry, but before you continue, I note Mr Hanson’s views that the silence did not represent an endorsement of your argument.
Mr Hanson: Thank you, Mr Speaker.
MR BARR: It may have been a series of rhetorical questions and a debating point. Nonetheless, I do note that those opposite rarely need an invitation to interject. You are right: I should not encourage them.
I am due next door to present the water safety awards and I am already 10 minutes late, so I will wrap up simply by observing, in relation to Mr Smyth’s motion, that the invitation is there if he wishes to word something sensibly. If he wishes to word something sensibly, the government certainly will consider supporting something sensible. But what we have seen today is just a series of politically charged statements, and on that basis he could hardly expect the government to support his motion. If he was serious about a motion that would get bipartisan support—
Mr Smyth: Then propose an amendment. Have the energy to propose an amendment.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, thank you.
MR BARR: I am not the one who moved the motion. I have not brought this issue into the chamber; you have.
Mr Smyth: You are the one objecting, though.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth. You will have a chance in a moment.
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