House debates

Tuesday, 13 June 2006

Questions to the Speaker

Points of Order

3:21 pm

Photo of Bob McMullanBob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, my question relates to page 41 of the Hansard of Thursday, 1 June 2006 and some, I am sure, inadvertently inconsistent matters that occurred today. On 1 June I sought to speak to a point of order raised by the member for Mackellar and you said that I had no right to do so, which I think was incorrect—but nevertheless you made that ruling. Today a point of order was raised and, as I understood it, the Leader of the House spoke to that point of order. In my view, the procedure is that members do have a right to speak to points of order, and I feel that the Leader of the House was in order, but both rulings cannot be right. Either I was in order on 1 June or the Leader of the House was out of order today. I understand with all the tumult it is difficult, but I wonder if you could review those decisions and make sure that we get a consistent position.

Photo of David HawkerDavid Hawker (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fraser. I will certainly review that Hansard and report back as appropriate.