Page 636 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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Mr Hargreaves: Madam Assistant Speaker, Mr Seselja has said by way of interjection and now in his speech, “You know what Mr Hargreaves is like after dinner.” I suggest to you, Madam Assistant Speaker, that this line that the Leader of the Opposition is using is a reflection on me as a member of this place and I believe it to be disorderly. I would ask you to get him to withdraw it and to cease using that particular phraseology.
MR SESELJA: What—“after dinner”? There is nothing unparliamentary, Madam Assistant Speaker, on the point of order.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, would you like to withdraw?
MR SESELJA: Madam Assistant Speaker, we will get to an absurd situation if every time John Hargreaves’s feelings are hurt we have to withdraw. There is nothing unparliamentary around anything I have just said.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, would you like to withdraw?
MR SESELJA: What am I being asked to withdraw and what are the words that are unparliamentary? I would like your ruling on that.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Your reflection on the member, as I understood what you were trying to say.
MR SESELJA: Saying that he made a speech after dinner, which is a statement of fact?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, this is not actually a matter for debate. Will you withdraw?
MR SESELJA: I just seek your ruling. I think it is standing order 73 where I can seek a ruling from you. What is the ruling? What are the unparliamentary words which I am being asked to withdraw?
Mr Hargreaves: Madam Assistant Speaker, if I may be permitted to assist the chair in a slight way, Mr Seselja, if he takes the words and separates them out, can try to establish some innocence in this particular thing, but put together in the inflection and in the insinuation it is quite clear that there is an intentional reflection on my character and that is unseemly and disorderly.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, I invite you to withdraw the comments that could be regarded as reflecting upon the member.
MR SESELJA: If you can just point out the exact words, I will be happy to withdraw, Madam Assistant Speaker.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, as you would be aware, Hansard is not this quick.
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