Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I think we can find a way through this without the back and forth.

Just resume your seat.

Minister for the Environment, I appreciate your assistance, but I think I've got this. There were a lot of problems with that question, in terms of the way it was phrased and in terms of the direct reference and inference—if we could just take out some of those inferences. Standing order 100(d)—I want to read it out so the whole House knows:

Questions must not contain:

(i) statements of facts or names of persons, unless they can be authenticated and are strictly necessary to make the question intelligible;

(ii) arguments;

(iii) inferences;

(iv) imputations;

(v) insults;

(vi) ironical expressions; or

(vii) hypothetical matter.

It did contain a lot of those things. If the member for Mallee could just tone that question down, make it factual and make it a little less personal, she could still get her point across and still make sure the House knows what she is asking the minister. I'm asking her to work with me on that for the benefit of the House. She has the call.

See this speech in context