Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I call the minister and for the benefit of the House, the Chief Government Whip made a point of order during that last quorum, and I want to advise the House that I, as Deputy Speaker, am obliged to count the House when the state of the House is drawn to my attention. House of Representatives Practice clearly states here that, notwithstanding that there have been cases in the past where a speaker has refused to call a quorum when there have been more than two against one speaker, in the context of that that is really in conflict with the principles of the responsibility of the Speaker.

For the benefit of the Chief Government Whip, I have checked with House of Representatives Practice. Firstly, I have accepted that taking a point of order during a quorum has not been the general practice in the past but I did accept that as a point of order, given the nature of the quorums that have been called. But also, according to page 268 of House of Representatives Practice, I as Deputy Speaker am obliged to accept a quorum and to do a count of the House. The Chief Government Whip drew my attention to Speaker Causley’s ruling, and it really is in conflict with the general principles and the historical record in terms of the role of Speaker when it comes to quorums.

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