Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Those members behind the Leader of the Opposition are not helping anyone, including their leadership, when they interject like this. I need to deal with what's a very serious matter and all they do is hinder the performance of the House. That's not what they were elected to do. I'm going to say two things to the Manager of Opposition Business and to the Minister for Home Affairs. It is well established that, when it comes to questions and answers, the chair is not in a capacity to judge accuracy. I'd be suspending the House and going and checking on facts and figures all day. That is why personal explanations are allowed at the end of question time. I'm going to say very clearly that there is no tolerance for reflections on members and imputing motives within the Practice. I'm just saying that as a piece of information that is very, very important. So both the Manager of Opposition Business and the minister can have their personal explanations at the end of question time, if they so wish, and we will deal with them then. In the meantime, I'll listen to the minister.

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