Page 2027 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 15 May 2013
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Mr Wall: Madam Speaker, on relevance, the question was about what the minister is doing to advocate for a commonwealth building program, not what he is doing on his jaunts overseas.
MADAM SPEAKER: The standing orders require you to be directly relevant. Can you be relevant to the question?
MR BARR: As I was saying, I am seeking investment in the territory. It will not all come from the commonwealth. We believe—
Opposition members interjecting—
Mr Corbell: A point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order, Mr Corbell?
Mr Corbell: Madam Speaker, you have been consistently ruling in this place that members opposite should cease interjecting. You made about half a dozen or more such rulings yesterday. You have already made at least two in question time today, calling to order members of the opposition. They continue to interject, and I would ask you to again remind members of their responsibilities.
Mr Coe: What is the point of order, Simon?
Mr Corbell: The point of order is under standing order 202—disorder. The members are persistently and wilfully refusing to adhere to your orders, Madam Speaker, and I would ask you to call them to order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell. Like Minister Burch yesterday, I do not need your assistance in keeping order in this place. I have said from the outset that I believe that this is a place where there is an exchange of ideas and that there will be conversation. I do not expect that members should be heard in silence, except on appropriately important and monumental occasions. Question time has always been a time for the exchange of ideas, and if I find that it is getting out of hand, I will deal with it.
Mr Corbell: Madam Speaker, on your ruling, and of course I respect your ruling, but I must advise you—
MADAM SPEAKER: No, I do not think you do, Mr Corbell.
Mr Corbell: I must advise you, Madam Speaker, that members of the government are increasingly concerned at the level of interjection from those opposite and whether or not they are properly having regard to your repeated reminders to them.
MADAM SPEAKER: Questions without notice? Mr Seselja.
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