Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy Speaker, on a point or order. You made a ruling a moment ago, based in good faith, that you believed the count had been signed off by the tellers for each side. I ask that you check with the clerks whether or not that is in fact true.

Government members interjecting—

We cannot move on. The next stage of debate is determined by what has just happened. How do we deal with what names go into Hansard? A ruling has just been given based on advice from the clerks which may or may not be correct. I would ask that you check with the clerks as to whether or not the tellers from both sides signed off on that count. I am asking for that to be done now. We do not have to wait a month. The clerks are right here; the papers are right here; it has either been signed off by the tellers for each side or it has not.

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