Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I will respond to that. That was the second point. I am thankful that you have made the admission that, because of the new environment just for this question time, people are listening—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

I take that in the spirit that it was offered. I have indicated that the complication for any occupant of the chair is to allow debate either way. You know that I have perhaps been easier than I should have been about debate within the questions. When you look at the standing orders—and this is my reading of them—if debate is directly relevant, it is allowable. On this occasion, I would say to the minister that she should relate her material in a directly relevant manner in her response. I would not want to be a member of the commentariat who indicated that I did not think it was relevant to mention the member for Mitchell in a question that talked about glamour, but I think we do know that there has to be a confinement in the response to its direct relevance.

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