Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Order! I'm going to deal with this issue, Leader of the House. This comment that was used yesterday—I've spent a bit of time overnight dealing with imputations in questions. I know yesterday we had this issue raised. I just want to deal with this so the House is clear with my position. It will take me a little while to get through this, but it's important for the House to understand and for all members to understand moving forward.

Speaker Andrew, in 2000, outlined in detail the most comprehensive description of 'improper motives', and it's highlighted on page 556 of Practice, which outlines those sorts of comments in questions not being allowed or permitted, particularly with personal motives, regardless of where it's directed to. Speaker Smith had examples of ruling questions out of order on 15 February 2021 and 4 December 2018. In those questions—one was to the then Prime Minister and one was to the then Assistant Treasurer—those sorts of characterisations or comments during the questions were ruled out. Speaker Smith on page 12,434 of Hansard, particularly with this issue, said:

I'm certainly not comfortable with the language that just makes assertions, as it did—I'm really not—and those on my left—

who were the then opposition—

wouldn't be comfortable if that sort of language was directed back at them.

I myself, on 14 February, to the member for Ryan, asked her to redirect and rephrase a question, and on 12 February 2024 I asked the member for Curtin to do the same. So for consistency, from Speaker Andrew to Speaker Smith to myself, I'm just going to rule that part of the question out. I'll just allow the Leader of the Opposition to start the question again, without that part of the question, to assist the House.

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