Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I have been listening very closely to the Prime Minister, and I respect what the Manager of Opposition Business said. I do have to say I was on the verge of ruling the question out of order—I really was—because it is asking the Prime Minister about a previous government. But, in the interests of allowing free-flowing debate, I allowed the question. I could have taken a stricter ruling at the time; I deliberately decided not to. The Prime Minister is addressing the substance of the question. I will keep listening to the Prime Minister. But certainly, from the subject matter of the Leader of the Opposition's question, at this point I am ruling that the Prime Minister is still in order.

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