Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I think that's what we require, because we're in a division. Given the point of order from the Leader of the House, we can do one of two things. The important thing is we get the copies of the legislation in here. The Leader of the House has suggested that the House suspend for 15 minutes, and it's within my power to do that. What we should do is call the division off first. But, while those copies are being obtained—it might be 15 minutes or it might be shorter, as they might be out there, I'm not sure—rather than suspending, I just put it to the House that once the division is called off we could go back to the bill that was there—

Honourable members interjecting—

You don't wish to do that? Okay. In that case, we'll call the division off. Given the area we're in with standing orders and Practice, I'll put that as a motion. All those of that opinion say aye; to the contrary no. The division is off. The doors can be opened. It being 12.30 pm, the sitting is suspended until the ringing of the bells.

Sitting suspended from 12:30 to 13:01

I just say to members, obviously, the clerks, the attendants—everyone was in a difficult position because the points of order that were made, with respect to the number of copies of the bill, were made during the division, which meant no-one could move, as the Manager of Opposition Business pointed out when the Leader of the House was coming to speak to me, at my request. I have been able to ascertain some facts. I realise that emotions are running high. I can report, notwithstanding the view—and it seemed a very passionate view—that there were no bills present, that wasn't correct, and I have checked. There were bills present. I'm not going to have an argument about this, because I'm not going to—

Government members interjecting—

Those interjecting on my right are not helping. I am just going to work on the basis that that was a genuine belief. Anything else on the matter doesn't matter, because there were, prior to the ringing of the bells, I think, 25 or 22 copies. Some had been taken while the bells were ringing. I've seen that myself, and now I'm going to ask the Serjeant to bring in, I think, about another 40 or 50 copies. I am just going to make clear: that is more than is the case on every other occasion, and there are more being printed now. They will continue to come forward. That is all I can do. I'm not going to entertain any debate on the matter, on that subject, any further. We now can proceed with where we were, and I will again put the question that the motion be put.

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