Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. I will deal with this matter, and members on both sides may not like it. There were some contributions in the 90-second statements where I could have very easily sat the member for Moreton down at the end of his speech. If we are going to take a literal approach, I will be taking a literal approach. I do not believe the Prime Minister suggested that the Leader of the Opposition was literally taking a 'backhander', which I think is the term you are objecting to. I do not think the Prime Minister was saying that the Leader of the Opposition personally benefited—I don't. I believe it was a—

Honourable members interjecting—

Members will not interject—the member for Lingiari has already been mentioned! It was a political characterisation. If you want me to go to the aspects of Practice, I can give you many examples where that has been allowed. If members want a literal interpretation of the standing orders I will be ruling questions out of order left, right and centre. I am watching the language very carefully. I am not going to intervene at this point and I am going to call the next question.

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