House debates Questions to the Speaker

Member for Gippsland

Thursday, 25 November 2010 House of Representatives

Joel Fitzgibbon

Joel Fitzgibbon Hunter, Australian Labor Party

3:34 pm

In an action which reminded me of a boxer’s trainer throwing the white towel into the ring, during question time the member for Gippsland left the chamber in much of a hurry and hurled a World Cup scarf into the press gallery. While some people might think I am being a little bit conservative, particularly at this time of year, I would have thought that if the member for Gippsland had some sentiment to extend to the Leader of the Opposition he could have simply passed him a text message.

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

There was no question in there and based on my—

Don Randall

Don Randall Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government

Mr Randall interjecting

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

Order! The member for Canning is the greatest advocate for the reverse of what he wants to achieve when he does things like that, because I was about to say that, consistent with the way that I have reacted to abuses of the forms of the House, the Chief Government Whip should know much better than to do what he just did.

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting

Harry Jenkins

Harry Jenkins Speaker

I think that I have just explained that if you want to advocate things sit there quietly and let me do my job.