Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Manager of Opposition Business for that. Having listened to him, let me say I will call for a seconder in a second. I have heard what the Manager of Opposition Business has said. Obviously, as Speaker, I need to enforce the standing orders. The Manager of Opposition Business and all members are welcome to make whatever points they want—that is what the chamber is about—and to pass resolutions, but ultimately the House has passed a resolution in the form of the standing orders, and those standing orders apply. What the amendment says is that because the Selection Committee essentially has not determined a date—in fact, could not have determined a date and could not have met in the period since the message arrived here, in which we have had this debate—you are seeking that the House make a resolution. But I am just making very clear that, under standing order 41, it is very black and white that the Selection Committee determines timings, and it does so on all matters. If the House, in the future, does not want that system to operate then the standing orders need to be changed.

I will call for a seconder for the motion.

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