John Cobb (Calare, National Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker Scott, like others, may I take the opportunity to congratulate you, the member for Chisholm and the new Speaker of the House on obtaining your positions, which are very relevant to the topic of this debate. We pay a lot of respect to the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, for the very good reason that you run the House and you make the order of business possible. Everybody knows that, if we wanted to have the House in total disruption all the time, we could do that—but we do not. We respect the fact that the Speaker and the deputy speakers have a job to do and we do not cross a certain line because we know the business of government must happen. I think this is a situation where that line has been crossed.

I can well understand why a new government, after four terms in opposition, would come in and be very hairy chested. I can quite understand why they would be feeling their oats and would want to make life easier for themselves and perhaps, in their eyes, harder for us. But I do not think that is the point. A mistake has been made and I think you have to step back and think about it. When a person as respected, as learned and as calm as Philip Ruddock—who is not noted for making political points—says you need to look at the legal implications, that says to me there could be a real issue here.

It is also about a new government being seen to do the right thing and give a fair go—and not by the opposition. This is not about doing the right thing by us. No government is ever expected to do that. But it is very much about doing the right thing by the Australian people and giving them their million dollars worth every day that this House sits. Sit it must and, when it does, it must sit properly.

The one thing no-one has explained to us yet is why we would sit without ministers, why we would sit without question time, why we would sit without quorums, why we would sit without divisions, why we would sit without MPIs. No-one has answered that question or even attempted to answer it, and I think it is probably a question that needs answering if you really do intend to deny the Australian people their right and to go ahead with this. I simply repeat: I do understand why you would feel as though you want to take control of the parliament in your own way, but this time you have gone too far. You have to step back and do the right thing, not by us but by Australia.

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

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