Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

That's very good—been watching Annabel Crabb!

Government members interjecting—

The members on my right can cease interjecting because, as I said, I want to address the House. It's not too late to be ejected under 94(a), I can assure members. I'm very capable, given the last two question times we've had, of doing a significant job lot. Now we've completed the division, let me just say very plainly to the House that I think the point that the Leader of the House made was valid. If anyone had raised with me the practicalities of that one-minute division following on from a division where a count didn't occur, I would have, during that division, absolutely changed to four minutes partway through, and there are many precedents for that. So I certainly take my share of responsibility for the confusion that has occurred.

Honourable members interjecting—

Whoever it is up there that's muttering can stop muttering, or they can do it outside the chamber. It's the member for Lilley, is it?

Mr Swan interjecting—

I thank the member for Lilley. As with the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business, it takes both to cooperate in this place, so I do take the overtures of the Manager of Opposition Business seriously and, as I said, the standing orders do make provision for this, where members are confused or the Speaker is sometimes a bit quick off the mark. So I thank the Manager of Opposition Business for making that point. I call the Leader of the House.

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