Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you. I would be interested to hear from Senator Siewert. Can you tell me where that is against the standing orders? I know you're wearing your 'yes' badge, Mr Temporary Chair. That, I would suggest to you, shouldn't be happening, but, that aside, that interruption was, you must admit, not within the standing orders. So I say that I—

The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Sorry, Senator Abetz. Just hold it there a moment. Which interruption are you referring to?

Your interruption, Mr Chair, when I invited Senator Siewert on behalf of the Greens to make a comment—

The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Senator Abetz, I made a ruling that you should direct your comments through the chair, not directly at Senator Siewert across the chamber. That is disorderly.

Yes, but I wasn't.

The TEMPORARY CHAIR: It certainly looked like you were.

If I want to hear from a senator who is representing the Greens, who happens to rejoice in the name of Senator Siewert, there is nothing against the standing orders to say that I cannot say that I want to hear from Senator Siewert or the Green representative in the chamber. There is nothing against standing orders in mentioning a senator's name.

The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Senator Abetz, I've made my ruling. Direct your comments through the chair. It is a pretty simple instruction.

But I have! Oh, my goodness!