Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, obviously it goes to the essence of democracy in this place that we can ask questions of the government and that we know when the microphone is going to be switched off and when it's not going to be.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, this is critically important, and I'm asking this. I have met Tony Smith.

Government members interjecting—

I have met Tony Smith. I have. Why won't you, for once, let someone talk without your interjections?

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

Manager, what is the question to me?

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is: would you please be able to come back to the opposition around the rules which dictate how the microphone is turned on and off in this place?

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

I can answer that question right now.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Alright. Okay.

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

Resume your seat. When the Speaker says, 'Resume your seat,' that's when the microphone goes off. That has always been the case.

Honourable members interjecting—

Alright, just resume your seat. Resume your seat for a moment, because I do have information to give to the House. I'm happy to meet separately with the manager to discuss this item. I understand what he is trying to get to, but every Speaker has had that authority. Once the Speaker says, 'Resume your seat,' in a question, in an answer or on a point of order, the microphone gets turned off. That has been the case since Broadcasting.

Okay, as long as we can be brief, because I don't want to detain the House, because I know members have commitments. If you have a question to me about the operations of the House, I'm happy to hear it.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, could you please have a look at what happened for the first question, because you did not say, 'Resume your seat,' and the microphone was turned off?

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

Out of respect for the manager, I'm happy to investigate that matter for him, and I shall report back to him. People are entitled to ask me questions. If it's a technical question, I'm always happy to hear it.