Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

A point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I understand that you have ruled that we will break with the convention that is clearly there in House of Representatives Practice and the standing orders, that the call will alternate. What we are seeing here, therefore, is one question every 20 minutes, because you have a five-minute response, a five-minute dorothy dixer and then a five-minute response before anyone in the opposition gets the opportunity to ask questions.

The mistake in the ruling is confusing this consideration in detail process with Senate estimates. This is not the same process as Senate estimates, which is why the opposition is therefore having to sit through 20 minutes for each question that is being asked, so in this it makes about three. Could I ask you to seek from the Speaker a ruling for future consideration in detail processes on whether the call will indeed alternate or whether we will have a genuine process of question and answer. I respect the ruling that you have made here but, with respect, your ruling is wrong and is against the standing orders and the House of Representatives Practice. I would ask you to seek from the Speaker a ruling and for her to report after question time today on what that would be.

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