Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Hansard source

On the point of order raised by Senator O'Sullivan, there is no use of unparliamentary language or reflection upon another senator because it was not directed at another senator. However, Senator McKim, I urge you to read standing order 73. I have had discussions with party leaders about standing order 73 and its particular restriction that says questions shall not contain arguments, inferences, imputations, epithets or ironical expressions, among others things. That question, in my view, does not comply with standing order 73. I will, as I have said before, invite the minister to answer the parts of that question which were in order—and there were parts of that question that were in order. But I have warned senators that I will start applying standing order 73.