Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

And you will resume your seat.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

The member will resume his seat!

Honourable members interjecting—

There will be silence. Should there be a statement that implies that the member is by his actions himself committing some act which is illegal, then that is a reflection on the member.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

The member will resume his seat!

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

The member for Isaacs will also resume his seat. I am in the middle of saying something.

As you know, an imputation against a member is contrary to the standing orders. So, if the minister is imputing to the member who is in a photograph that he is somehow committing an illegal act, that is imputing and reflecting upon the member and is not in accordance with the standing orders. If a minister merely says a photograph exists which has certain people in it, that is not a reflection. So I would ask the minister—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Resume your seat! I would ask the minister, when he returns to the dispatch box to continue his answer, to bear that in mind and to not reflect on members. And, if there has been a reflection, he might assist the House by withdrawing any reflection. But, in accordance with my ruling, he may cite that people were in photographs together.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Resume your seat! The minister has the call.

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