Page 4743 - Week 11 - Thursday, 20 October 2011
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Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, you are now warned.
MS GALLAGHER: But ministers, and I hate—
Mr Seselja: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Stop the clocks, thank you.
Mr Seselja: Could I just seek your ruling. Is the new standard that any words spoken by a member without the floor will incur a warning from you? Is that the new standard? I just want to make it clear. It does seem that that is how you are applying it at the moment to the opposition.
MR SPEAKER: I have asked a number of times today for some silence when the ministers are speaking. The fact that I am now having to make those requests again I think is a point where I am issuing a warning. And I am actually at the point where members are likely to be getting a warning and I am not moving straight to a naming. That is my position.
Mr Seselja: Just, then, to clarify: you said you asked for silence in question time. Is the new standard now silence in question time? Is that the new standard?
MR SPEAKER: I have asked on a number of occasions today for a reduction in interjections when the Chief Minister is speaking or when any of the ministers are speaking. When I make those requests and somebody immediately, within 30 seconds of me making my position clear, starts to interject, I am left with very little room to manoeuvre.
Mr Smyth: Point of order.
MR SPEAKER: Sorry, Mr Smyth.
Mr Smyth: I said one or two words.
MR SPEAKER: For about the 20th time in question time today, Mr Smyth. You are lucky I did not name you straight up. Let us move on with the question. Thank you, Chief Minister.
MS GALLAGHER: I have finished my answer.
MR COE: Supplementary question, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, supplementary, Mr Coe.
MR COE: As Chief Minister, as first minister and as the leader of this government are you sorry for the way your government has handled this issue?
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