Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question goes to the conduct of the House. I've noticed this week it has become the habit of the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and occasionally the Leader of the House to stand at the dispatch box and stare at members on this side if they seek to make a point of order. Just before the end of—

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a point of order.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House wants to make a joke of it now, but my concern is that this is an attempt to intimidate those opposite as they make a point of order. Just before the end of question time, the Prime Minister made a snide remark to the Leader of Opposition Business as he sought to make a point of order. Under the standing order 86(b) a member interrupted by a point of order must resume his or her seat. I'm seeking your guidance, Mr Speaker. Are the ministers opposite complying with standing order 86(b) and resuming his or her seat, as required, when members on this side seek to make a point of order?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We dealt with this matter yesterday, just in terms of questions to the Speaker. I will state it again to the House. It's for the administration of the parliament. Just so we're clear: if people want to ask me a question—everyone thinks you can ask me a question about anything. It's narrow, under the standing orders. It's the operation of the House, something that has happened within the building and those sorts of questions, not, 'Could you please give me your opinion about standing orders and what's happened.' If that happened and you felt that at the time, it would be an appropriate time to raise it then. I appreciate the spirit with which it was raised. I don't understand—I'm sorry, I haven't observed the staring—

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! If someone is standing there, ergo it makes sense that you would be looking at each other.

Government members interjecting—

Order, members on my right! I don't know why that's funny. In the spirit that it was asked, I would remind all members of the House that if someone is rising to their feet to take a point of order, the appropriate action would be to resume your seat. Equally so, I would wait until the Speaker does call you to make your point of order. We will do it in an orderly way and hopefully people won't feel the need to take points of order.