Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I ask the Manager of Opposition Business to resume his seat.

Honourable members interjecting—

The minister will cease interjecting.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

The member for Isaacs and the minister will cease interjecting or they will be having their conversation outside the chamber. I will make a couple of points to the Manager of Opposition Business. I have heard him and I do respect the fact that the member for Gorton was obviously passionate on the issue—I could see that from here—as are other members. Nonetheless, I have made it very clear on points of order that, if I am hearing a point of order and I ask someone to resume their seat, they need to resume their seat immediately. No matter how passionate they feel about the issue, they will not remain at the dispatch box and shout into the chamber. It was for that reason and the fact that he had been warned for his conduct twice previously in question time—the combination of those things and not resuming his seat—that I was forced to eject him. If he had resumed his seat, I would have heard from the Manager of Opposition Business. Has the minister concluded?

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