House debates Business
Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House
3:10 pm
by leave—I move:
That standing order 31 (automatic adjournment of the House) be suspended for this sitting and that, after the Leader of the Opposition completes his reply to the Budget speech, the House automatically stand adjourned until 10 am on Monday, 25 May 2015, unless the Speaker or, in the event of the Speaker being unavailable, the Deputy Speaker, fixes an alternative day or hour of meeting.
Question agreed to.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
For the arrangements for the speech by the honourable Leader of the Opposition in his budget reply tonight, the same rules will apply as applied for the presentation by the Treasurer of his budget speech. If there is any need for action under section 94(a), it will be done by a note being sent to the person concerned.
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
3:11 pm
With regard to the rules for this evening: I know there has been a significant handing around of props around the government benches. Given that you have the ruling that you will only pass around advice by written note, it creates a problem if there is an attempt to disrupt the speech tonight. I would ask that you take appropriate action in terms of advising government members.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
The whip was just holding it up.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I would simply say—
Ms Macklin interjecting—
The member for Jagajaga! Excuse me. Could I have some manners.
Honourable members interjecting—
I will have silence, thank you very much. The fact of the matter is—yes, the member for Bass.
Andrew Nikolic Bass, Liberal Party
I seek leave to make a personal explanation.
Honourable members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There will be silence. I will in fact deal with the member for Bass's request in moment. The member for Bass will resume his seat. I will simply say that there is a rule in this House that there are no props to be used. That applies equally to the speech in reply by the Leader of the Opposition, and I would ask all government members to observe that. That is the proper behaviour, and I would not wish to see any change from it. If there is, it might have to be dealt with.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?
Andrew Nikolic Bass, Liberal Party
I do indeed—just now, by the member for Jagajaga and others—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
You may only proceed with my indulgence. You have my indulgence.
Andrew Nikolic Bass, Liberal Party
The member for Jagajaga I believe just made the claim that I had passed props around the parliament. That is absolutely false and mendacious. It is absolutely false and mendacious. I have passed no props to other members of this parliament.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
Point of order.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
There is no point of order on a statement of indulgence If the member seeks indulgence, she may do so.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments
Just to correct what I said: you held up a prop for the cameras to take pictures of. That's exactly what you did.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
No! No! The member for Jagajaga will resume her seat. The proper way in which to deal with that is to seek leave to make a personal explanation.