Page 137 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 28 November 2012
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MR RATTENBURY: On the point of order, Madam Speaker, I have actually only spoken for 7¾ minutes. So whether it was a 10-minute or a 15-minute speech, Mr Smyth is really taking this up in a most inappropriate place, and this is an incredibly ungenerous way to conduct himself in this chamber.
Mr Seselja: Is that a point of order or—
MADAM SPEAKER: I do not think it is a point of order. It is on the point of order. Mr Smyth raised the point of order. Mr Rattenbury has responded. This is something that actually occupied my mind when I was reading this this morning. The 15 minutes was put up for you, Mr Rattenbury. If you choose not to use 15 minutes, that is a separate issue. I take your point. I think that there are arguments both ways. This is not the place to address them. I thank you for raising it with me, and I will raise it with administration and procedure.
Mr Smyth: And if I can just clarify, I happened to look up and notice that seven minutes was still left and the minister had been speaking for some time. It was only then that I realised that he had actually been allocated 15 minutes. Normally if two ministers speak the second minister only gets 10 minutes.
MADAM SPEAKER: It is something that exercised my mind this morning when I was going through the procedures, but it cannot be resolved here. Mr Rattenbury, to resume.
MR RATTENBURY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We were talking about tax. I might come back to Mr Smyth’s point at some other stage, because I think it also reflects the fact that I have certainly indicated to his leader—
MADAM SPEAKER: Please be relevant. If you are going to bring it back, bring it back at another time. Be relevant to the motion now, Mr Rattenbury.
MR RATTENBURY: Excellent discipline that I am sure Mr Smyth will stand to as well. We were talking about tax, and as we said during the campaign—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Rattenbury.
MR RATTENBURY: Yes?
MADAM SPEAKER: Sit down, please. Mr Rattenbury, I asked you to be relevant. I do not need a lesson from the former Speaker about how I should conduct myself here. Throughout this debate I have asked people on both sides to be relevant, and I do not need to be chipped by you.
MR RATTENBURY: For the sake of clarity, Madam Speaker, I was not seeking to chip you. I was referring to Mr Smyth. I nonetheless note your observation.
I was talking about tax. As we said during the campaign on many occasions and as WIN news managed to work out from the information available publicly, rates across
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