Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
3:25 pm
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.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Government Members:
Government members interjecting—
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
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?
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
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?
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Alright. Okay.
Milton Dick Speaker
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
3:27 pm
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
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.