House debates Questions to the Speaker

Chamber Clock

Monday, 15 November 2010 House of Representatives

Steve Irons

Steve Irons Swan, Liberal Party

3:37 pm

Mr Speaker, I have a question to you. I noticed that when the member for Indi came up to the dispatch box today the clock had started well before she was there and, by the time she got there, there were only 40 seconds left for her question.

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Government Member:

Government member interjecting

Steve Irons

Steve Irons Swan, Liberal Party

Well, it is part of your new paradigm. Mr Speaker, could you please tell us what the procedure is for that?

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

We will have a look at it. I can assure you that nothing is being done in a deliberate fashion. If we talk about that dreadful expression ‘the new paradigm’, it is all our business. If there are still training wheels on, that is regrettable, but I think that everybody in the circumstances is trying to make sure that things are done. I believe the member for Indi managed to get her question well within—if it was only 40 seconds—the 40 seconds.

Sophie Mirabella

Sophie Mirabella Indi, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science

Mrs Mirabella interjecting

Teresa Gambaro

Teresa Gambaro Brisbane, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Settlement

She struggled!

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

I doubt whether the member for Indi would struggle on matters like that. I know that she would get it.