Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business brought this to my attention as I—

Mr Hunt interjecting—

Ms Catherine King interjecting—

Member for Ballarat and the Minister for Health! The Manager of Opposition Business is right. The closure motion was moved quite quickly, and the member for Whitlam had not seconded the motion. In the past where I've felt that that was wilful, I've let the motion lapse. I don't believe it was wilful on this occasion. The question, really, is whether the division should be proceeded with. My view is that it shouldn't, and then we simply call the division off and I'll call for a seconder for the motion. So we'll call off the division.

Mr Burke interjecting—

Yes. If the division is called off, the member for Whitlam is still able to jump and second the motion. I hope he's been listening, because if they're not the first words that come out of his mouth, it's not going to end well. We'll call off the division, and I will ask whether the motion moved by the member for Rankin is seconded.

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