Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Wide Bay. Obviously, I'm not going to reach a definitive position on this now. There's another part of the standing orders that's very important in this regard. It says:

If a government Member is elected as Deputy Speaker, only a non-government Member may be elected as Second Deputy Speaker—

and that's been the case now. If a non-government member is elected Deputy Speaker, then a government member must be elected Second Deputy Speaker. The member for Wide Bay made some remarks about his position with respect to the government overnight. I haven't studied those in great detail, I have to say. But I do need to point out to the House that that requirement is there. I know the Leader of the House is ready to make a point of order. I'm always happy to hear from my friend, the Leader of the House, but I'll need to examine those statements. Was the member for Wide Bay seeking to—

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