Page 4464 - Week 10 - Thursday, 23 September 2010
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MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Seselja, sit down for a moment. On the issue of the warnings, warnings are, in fact, a courtesy. There is no requirement under the standing orders for me to give a warning. I try to use them as a means to indicate my expectations in the chamber and to not simply name members. That is a courtesy extended by the Speaker, so there is not a ruling there that you can dissent against.
Mr Seselja: Sorry, there’s no ruling? So, when you warn people, we cannot dissent against that?
MR SPEAKER: No, you cannot. There is no requirement under the standing orders for the Speaker to give a warning. It is simply a matter of courtesy.
Mr Seselja: I dissent against your ruling to sit me down. I think we have had in the past—Mr Corbell—dissent on your ruling that your ruling is not a ruling. We had a motion moved by Mr Corbell. I will move that motion.
MR SPEAKER: Which?
Mr Seselja: That I cannot dissent on your ruling.
MR SPEAKER: There is no ruling to dissent against, Mr Seselja.
Mr Seselja: You sat me down; is that a ruling? Is anything you do here when you direct us a ruling?
Mr Corbell: Point of order, Mr Speaker. The behaviour of the leader of the opposition is showing complete disregard for your authority as Speaker. If Mr Seselja has a substantive complaint, he can move a substantive motion, but it is quite clear that he has none and, instead, simply wants to continue to flout and disregard your authority as the Speaker.
The Labor government will provide complete confidence in your rulings, Mr Speaker. Indeed, we would say to you that the time for you to exercise restraint in relation to this opposition is well and truly past, and that, if the opposition continue to behave in the manner that they have behaved over the last three to four months in particular and you need to exercise your authority, you will have the complete support of the government.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Seselja, I am trying to be clear to you. I do not believe there is a ruling that I have made that you want to dissent from. Is there a specific ruling you are dissenting against? Just answer that very specific question.
Mr Seselja: It is the entire conduct of question time this week.
MR SPEAKER: Sorry, let us be clear—
Ms Bresnan: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
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