Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Order! I am trying to give a ruling. The member for Blaxland will take his seat! I am trying to give a ruling. It is a fair comment that you make. There are 30 minutes allocated for the debate; the commencement time has expired. I understand the point that you make in and around the shortening of the time available and I can understand, completely, your frustration. However, there is a schedule.

Mr Conroy interjecting—

Please, allow me to make a ruling so we can forge on. There are provisions within the House, for when this chamber suspends to go down for a division and that has played havoc. I suspect that it is something that the Procedure Committee needs to adopt into the future. Unfortunately, we have ministers now rolling in for their allocated timeslots. I do sympathise with the member, but I have made a ruling on this. The standing orders in the Federation Chamber are ambiguous and they do need attention, and I do take the frustrations on board.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Agriculture and Water Resources Portfolio

Proposed expenditure, $560,766,000.

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