Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you for the explanation you've given, Mr Speaker. The issue that I sought to raise and that I seek to simply put before you is that this is a procedural motion that is put in two parts of standing orders. It is put once, as the Leader of the House referred to, with respect to the MPI. It is also put as a procedural motion under standing order 66. Where it appears under standing order 66, that standing order explains that 'a member may only interrupt another member' to do the following. It does not have further limitations on the MPI under that standing order. What I'm seeking to raise as a point of order is that standing orders provide for this to be moved in two different circumstances. I am not raising as a point of order that the Prime Minister doesn't have the right to delay as long as he wants in saying that further questions should be placed on the Notice Paper. What I am putting to you is that the House has the right, just as these other motions can be moved during question time. For example, (e), 'That the member be no longer heard,' is from time to time moved during question time, as is (g), 'That the business of the day be called on.' There are no words under standing order 66 that prevent the House from making that decision if it is so moved, and that's why I wish to move it.

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