Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

In answer to the Manager of Opposition Business, I respect his intention, but I'm going to point out again—and he and I can have discussions about this, probably not now; it might be better to have them in my office—I don't think it is right for this House, for an official opposition now or into the future, to have hostage of the MPI. If two matters had been submitted to me today, by convention, I would have chosen the opposition one. But, if the opposition didn't put one in and one came before me, we'd have had an MPI. So I think he has to ponder that point. The MPI is not the choice of the opposition; it's in the standing orders of this House. That's my difficulty. I'm just going to leave that thought with him. If I'd had two, of course, the convention would be to pick the opposition. But I'm not going to let the opposition now, or into the future, decide whether or not an MPI occurs. So that's a problem we've got to solve. We don't need to solve it now. I'm aware of your tactical considerations. I'm just aware of what needs to be done in this House, and that's why I was very blunt.

If you're waiting for the message, it hasn't come. Even if it had come by now, it wouldn't be before me through the processes that occur and it wouldn't ordinarily be dealt with today. The Australian Senate can pass messages—of course it can, and it can send them here and the House will deal with them—but processes are not going to be altered to suit what might be a tactical issue of the day. I'm just telling you openly, candidly—I've checked with the Clerk—the message has not come from the Senate. It is not here. So I think all of the issues that you're concerned about are not going to arise today. We're in question time. I think we just should move on. The member for Boothby.

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