Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I just say to the Manager of Opposition Business: looking at that standing order, I'm familiar with it because I think that standing order was attempted to be invoked on me on the first day I was Speaker, in another capacity. And, knowing the Manager of Opposition Business's attention to detail and his diligence, I'm making the assumption that that is the only example that he can find in the Practice. What that standing order, reading it now, refers to is motions for suspension of standing orders, and he's quite right, as it states:

(a) A Member may move, with or without notice, the suspension of any standing or other order of the House.

…   …   …

(c) If a suspension motion is moved without notice it:

  (i) must be relevant to any business under discussion and seconded; and

  (ii) can be carried only by an absolute majority of Members.

It's not referring to legislation between the second and third reading debates. If the Manager of Opposition Business was correct, we would see this happening after the second reading before leave is granted for the third reading. And, frankly, my judgement is that the process of legislation would be pretty chaotic in this place. I completely accept the point of the Manager of Opposition Business that that occurred once in 2013, but, as reluctant as I am to say this, I don't agree with all previous Speakers' rulings. I'm trying to ask leave for the third reading. Is leave granted for the third reading?

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