Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

If we are not accountable in this place for our words at all times when this chamber is sitting then we devalue this chamber in a substantive way. That is why we must suspend, and suspend now—just as our suspension should have been accepted by the government earlier in the week, and as the Prime Minister should have accepted questions yesterday and must accept questions today. When it comes to the Selection Committee, I understand, as does the coalition, that there is a process in place. But, when you suspend standing orders, you are in fact suspending the process to ensure that a matter that is more significant to the Australian people comes before the House immediately.

This is not a game. This is about the reputation of this place, the reputation of an individual and the reputation of a government. It comes down to the proper workings of this place and whether we are mature enough to be able to deal with issues in the public domain immediately. That is what the suspension of standing orders is about. It is about dealing with an issue directly relevant to the Australian people immediately—because it is an issue that is dominating.

I refer to some of the words of the member for Lyne who said that a member in this place should be treated as innocent until proven guilty—absolutely right. No charges have been laid in this matter. What matters is the fact that a member must be accountable—

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