Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. You've been very, very clear and I'm sure the House understands your position. Just to the point of order that the Manager of Opposition Business raised: in House of Representatives Practice, it says:

… it is entirely within the discretion of the Prime Minister or the senior Minister present as to whether Question Time will take place and, if so, for how long.

There is absolutely no ambiguity about the length being entirely within the discretion of the Prime Minister. As question time has begun, it can only end when he or the senior minister who is present decides that it is the end. That's very, very clear in House of Representatives Practice, page 545.

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