Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, and as I indicated when the Leader of Opposition took her point of order, the question was specific. And we're not getting into a situation where, when a minister or the Prime Minister, whoever's directed the question, is on the policy topic and is explaining to the House about, in this case, the tax, we get up every time and disrupt question time. And this is a warning to everyone. Otherwise, I won't take the points of order.

I can give you loads of examples of where this has happened before. But we're starting on the right foot. Just because a minister isn't giving a fact, a figure, a yes or a no—as I was clear in the last parliament—we're not simply going to get people up to say, on points of relevance, that he's not answering the question, or she's not answering the question. If you need further information, go to page 567 of Practice, which clearly articulates the area of relevance. The minister is talking about the tax. He's explaining to the House the details of the tax. I can appreciate that it's not the answer that you want, but I can't direct him to answer it in a way that you would like. I can only direct him to make it relevant. If he strays into other policy, he'll be called to order.

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