Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I've listened carefully to the Leader of the House. Question time is robust, as I certainly know, but they are questions, and I have consistently adopted the approach of former Speaker Andrew, who certainly had a more liberal ruling than some earlier speakers, and that simply is that, if I rule questions like that out of order, it really just allows the matter to stand, and there is no capacity to respond to it as vigorously as you'd like. I've got the question here in front of me. The first part of it is an accusation, and then there are two questions. I will rule the question in order, and the Special Minister of State will answer.

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