Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Order! I think that if members would review the writings about this in House of Representatives Practice they would see that most of the comments that were made from the equivalent of this chair down in the old place that are referred to were made by Speaker Snedden. Speaker Snedden simply put that people who go into public life, get themselves elected as members of parliament, are often called upon to take things that outside seem a bit harsh. If in fact it is the case that people are concerned that a person’s political honesty is reflected upon in the way in which things are put to the chamber, and that that is something that we should be mortified by, perhaps we are not allowing ourselves to have the type of robust debate that we should have.

I have indicated that I am not really very happy when question time is used to make points about personalities. I mentioned that to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation yesterday. I would rather the contest be a contest of ideas. But on this occasion I think that we would be getting a little overly precious. Even though the member for Casey might feel a little aggrieved, I am sure that his skin is thick enough to take it on this occasion.

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