Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I simply say: I thank the House for its cooperation. It is a very hard thing to be able to discuss this matter, because, as the member for North Sydney is aware, at the same time there was a similar incident. If the member involved had been displaying a lack of alertness, an attendant would have gone up to that member and made them alert—and on this occasion I am not talking about the member questioned by the Leader of the House. This makes it difficult to give definitive rulings. I am just suggesting to you that, if we expect behaviour of people in the gallery without expecting it of people in the House, and then we get precious about things, there are a lot of comments that are made in this place that I can highlight by taking action. If that is what the Manager of Opposition Business wants, I will do it.

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