House debates Questions to the Speaker
Standing and Sessional Orders
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
3:15 pm
The second question I want to ask is we have no precedent for the issue of simultaneous contradictory amendments, which may arise for the first time in the parliament at 5.30 this afternoon.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I will stop the honourable member there. Under standing orders, I will accept questions about the administration, for which I am responsible, but not for matters within the chamber. That is the position that former speakers have also taken.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
3:16 pm
Can I seek your guidance as to when is the appropriate time to raise it, Madam Speaker?
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
It is not an appropriate question for you to ask of me in the chamber. As I said, under the standing orders, I will accept questions on administration. The question I accepted from the Treasurer was one. I call the Leader of the House—who is going to offer assistance, I believe.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
I am going to offer assistance, Madam Speaker. The assistance is that that is a matter within the House's authority to determine, and the House has determined its decision by passing the debate management motions by a majority of votes.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I accept the comments that people have made, and when we come to those issues we will deal with them.