Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

No, I do not need people supporting me or opposing me. It was very close to the line. The way the Manager of Opposition Business expressed it was different to the wording of the question. Can I say that the Manager of Opposition Business expressed it in terms that were well within the standing orders. The original question was not expressed in that fashion at all. It asked the PM to guarantee certain things about an independent body. If it had been expressed in the way the Manager of Opposition Business had expressed it, I would have allowed it. So, I will be generous: I will give the member for Gorton the opportunity to rephrase his question. I hope he was listening. I will just say that you do not need the bit of paper—that will not help.

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