Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I will endeavour to be relevant and short. As a member of the Selection Committee let me make it very clear that the opposition members support the procedures, and the suggestion that we are not committed to those procedures is false and does not reflect our views. As the member for North Sydney made very clear, I think in the most relevant comment that I have heard in this debate so far, the agreement that was made for the way in which this parliament would conduct itself did not remove the right to suspend standing orders where matters were urgent and required further attention. That is simply what we are seeking to do here.

I am not one who is unaware of the way in which this parliament has been conducted in the past. I have been the subject of untrue and false allegations made by the then opposition which were shown to be untrue and false in an inquiry that was set up by them, yet they come in and endeavour in relation to an important matter that is on the public record to say that this should not be raised by this opposition. This is no more or less than government members did when they were in opposition. Let me make that very clear.

In relation to the member's right to remain silent, I respect that. But my view is that that is something—

See this speech in context