John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question now is that the remaining stages of the bill be agreed to and the bill be now passed.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order under standing order 185 (i):

A senator shall acknowledge the chair on entering or leaving the chamber.

I have noticed all week, Mr President, that some do not do that and I refer specifically to Senator Bob Brown. I have watched Senator Brown all this week come into this chamber and exit this chamber without acknowledging the President, or the person in the President's chair representing the President, at all. I think it is demeaning, I think it is disrespectful to the President and I ask you to call on Senator Brown and some of his colleagues to abide by that standing order and show proper respect to the President.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Williams, you are raising a point of order on matters I have not been witness to this week. For the benefit of all honourable senators, I draw their attention to the standing orders and the appropriate respect which needs to be shown.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President: I ask Senator Williams to withdraw that offensive statement.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bob Brown, there is no point of order.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bring it on, Bob!

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, Mr President: I do not know what he has had for dinner, but he should not be shouting across the chamber like that. I ask you to bring Senator Williams to order and to get him to behave decently.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bob Brown, there is no point of order.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On my point of order, Mr President: if you are ruling that interjections are not disorderly, then let that stand.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not ruling that at all. I am just saying, Senator Bob Brown, that there is no point of order. Interjections, as everyone knows, are disorderly and do not help the conduct of business at this hour of the night.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a third time.