Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

As the Leader of the House quite rightly points out, to resign from the House, a member needs to write to me. Once I've received it and annotated it, that resignation is effective. Certainly, by the time I entered question time, I hadn't received letters of resignation. Given the Leader of the House has asked me that question, I will, for the benefit of members—without interjections from either side—outline the process. If the House is sitting, once I've received a letter of resignation and annotated it, it's my duty to come into the House and advise the House. If the House is not sitting—and this has been the case on a number of occasions—my practice has been to publicise the fact that I've received it as soon as I possibly can. That's the case and that's my responsibility.

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