Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Let me address this very directly and as quickly as I can.

Honourable members interjecting—

If members would cease interjecting. The Leader of the House is right about who makes determinations on the timing of such things, but that in my view doesn't prevent the question being asked. I'll explain why. The part of Practice that the Manager of Opposition Business read—he's got the new edition and I've got the old edition photocopied here—certainly talks about timing and procedure—

Honourable members interjecting—

No, I've got a photocopy. I haven't got the whole book in front of me. The Practice doesn't refer to motions, but the standing order is very clear and says that 'questions must relate to a bill, motion, or other business'. It does include a motion, so the question is in order, even if the question may be difficult or impossible to answer. So I call the member for New England.

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