Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I will just make clear that I'm going to address the House without interjection. This, of course, leads to a situation best summed up by the member for Jagajaga's question in the last sitting week, where the Prime Minister was given a huge character assessment that wasn't a question, and that has followed in questions since. This then led to the Prime Minister, naturally, responding to what was part of the 30-second statement and question, with the member for Jagajaga then complaining about the response. As I pointed out, there was no way I was going to allow that question to be asked and then curtail the answer.

My personal view is that this demeans the House because it leads to very aggressive questions that have statements in them that simply aren't questions. That particular question has taken it, I think, to a new low. Now, I am just flagging with the House that I'm not happy with how this goes. I've never wanted to curtail debate, but the 30-second time limit is for questions. I have allowed preambles, but if they are going to end up leading down this path then I'm flagging now that I will be taking a different approach.

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