Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

Just on a point of order, should the issue arise again either today or on subsequent days, under standing order 78 there's a list of resolutions which includes the one that we just voted on. It then concludes by saying:

Should any of these questions be negatived, no similar proposal shall be received if the Speaker is of the opinion that it is an abuse of the orders or forms of the House, or is moved for the purpose of obstructing business.

I remember this one because it was used against me when, daily, I was moving that the member for New England be no further heard. Speaker Smith then set a precedent that, once the House had made clear on one occasion that they intended to continue with debate, that resolution would not be entertained again until the following week.

We've now had two of these in a day. On each occasion, the House has voted that we, in fact, did want to continue with debate. I would simply ask that, should the issue arise again, that bottom part of standing order 78 be considered by you, Mr Speaker, or whoever is in the chair at the time.

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