Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Okay. The clock wasn't stopped, because that has been the practice. We have time limits. Perhaps members on both sides can hear me on this; on some matters I'm happy to be in your hands, to be honest. We have time limits on both questions and answers. That's been the practice in the past with respect to questions. It's completely different with respect to other motions that are moved. I'm happy to be corrected. My recollection is that these motions were moved in the 43rd Parliament—certainly. That has been the practice. When it comes to question time—and I'm going to remind members of another matter in a second—that has been the practice. If members feel that strongly about it that they think the clock should have kept running, and that's, frankly, a device they want to use, I just caution them that that device cuts both ways; it really does.

Can I also point out—and I know that the Manager of Opposition Business well knows this—the motion he moved during question time is not often moved during question time. It can be moved on a minister giving an answer. Can I also say for the interests of clarity that, equally, it can be moved by a government minister on anyone asking the question. My interest is in free-flowing debate. I've always made that clear. So I say: be careful what you wish for. My view on the Deputy Prime Minister is that, having had that motion moved on him, the House having determined it and negatived it, it is an unreasonable restriction not to allow him to resume. That's my view, and I think that should be the practice of the House. That's my view. The Deputy Prime Minister.

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