Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Dickson will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

The member for Dickson then left the chamber.

I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that I understand his frustration, that he believes that he is (a) not getting the answer he is trying to elicit and (b) not being answered in the way he would wish. I have said to this House that, if members want to improve the exchange in questions and answers, the simplest way of doing that is to apply the same rules to both, which would remove the argument. I regret to say that we confront a decision that I have to make on whether the response be argument or the placing of facts before the chamber and whether it is directly relevant or not. Whilst I appreciate that the Leader of the Opposition believes he has asked a specific question for which he wants a direct answer, as I have stated throughout the year, that is not the standing order.

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