Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

The minister's not helping. I listened very carefully to the Prime Minister, and the Manager of Opposition Business is right that there have been occasions where people have been told it would assist the dignity of the House to withdraw. There have been a number of occasions today where, if things hadn't been said, it would have assisted the dignity of the House—or if they'd been withdrawn. I'm not going to require a withdrawal. I am going to say there are other means open to members, including, if they think that is a misrepresentation, to take that. But I can think of many, many examples of very tough language like that—and I will say it was tough—that have occurred. Had it been the case that it was very personalised and went directly to the person, that would be a different matter, and on that I caution all members speaking. The Prime Minister has concluded his answer? He's got 22 seconds.

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