Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, but until that question, as I said yesterday, has been moved, seconded and then I have stated that it is the question before the House, it is not the question. The question before the House is the original question. It's made very, very clear in the House of Representatives Practice, with all the precedents, that a closure motion can be moved during the moving of an amendment, the seconding of an amendment, until such time as that seconding is complete and I say, 'The question is that the amendment be agreed to.' Up until that point, the closure applies.

I know the member for Melbourne has raised this a number of times. I suggest that he has a close look at the page in Practice with all the precedents.

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