Page 2967 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 16 October 2007
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Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I just indicated to you that the noes have it and that you need to call a division.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, no. You made that call after I asked whether you wanted to call a division. You were somewhat slow, Mr Corbell. There is no point of order.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Acting Minister for Health and Acting Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services) (5.04): I move:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the vote from being called again.
Mr Smyth: Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to speak to that motion.
MR CORBELL: I will speak to my motion if that is okay, Mr Deputy Speaker. It is the courtesy in this place that when members indicate that there is a disagreement on a vote the matter is put to a division. The nicety that you put forward, Mr Deputy Speaker, was not reasonable. It is entirely reasonable, given that the view of the government is that that matter should not be brought back on for debate, that the matter be recommitted to ensure that the will of the Assembly is properly recognised in the records. I have moved that this matter be recommitted so that the vote can be properly recorded and the views of government members can be properly recorded. They have not.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.05): The problem, Mr Deputy Speaker, is that Mr Corbell was asleep and he got caught out. You declared the vote and they do not like the decision. I am quite amazed that they simply do not want to discuss a report that was delivered to the Assembly this morning by a committee that is dominated by the government into one of the government’s favourite issues and which should be one of their favourite issues in the lead-up to the federal election. I think it indicates their level of embarrassment about the report that Mr Gentleman has delivered. I would be embarrassed, too, about a report—
Mr Corbell: I raise a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker.
MR SMYTH: called working families that does not even mention working families in the body of the text.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, resume your seat.
Mr Corbell: Mr Deputy Speaker, the motion before the chair is that standing orders be suspended. It is not about the substance of the committee report itself. It is about standing orders being suspended. Mr Smyth should restrict his comments to—
Mr Mulcahy: What standing order? What is your point of order?
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