House debates Parliamentary Behaviour

Monday, 21 May 2007 House of Representatives

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House

12:30 pm

Mr Speaker, on indulgence, I refer to my letter to you of 14 May, your correspondence back to me of 18 May and your advice that, on 11 May, you had written to the Chair of the Procedure Committee concerning possible changes to the standing orders and House of Representatives Practice in relation to unruly behaviour during the Leader of the Opposition’s budget speech in reply. I also refer to page 521 of Practice, which states:

The naming of a Member usually occurs immediately an offence has been committed but this is not always possible. For example, Members have been named at the next sitting as a result of incidents that occurred at the adjournment of the previous sitting of the House.

I seek your advice, Mr Speaker, as to whether it would be appropriate to pursue this issue now or after question time.

David Hawker

David Hawker Speaker

12:31 pm

I thank the Manager of Opposition Business. I think matters like this would be better raised at the end of question time. I will accommodate him at that time.