Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, you have just given us a dissertation from the chair about this matter. The previous practice of Speakers during my time in this place, from Halverson onwards, has been that when there have been offensive comments made they have asked that they be withdrawn. I well recall that only last year numerous members of the then opposition stood up in this place and asked for the withdrawal of a comment about the then Leader of the Opposition, now the Prime Minister. At that time it was asked that the offensive comment be withdrawn. In our attempts to establish what are the new rules under Speaker—

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