Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I have a question to you, and I will also be seeking leave to make a personal explanation. My question to you, Mr Speaker, is: will you consider the conduct of the member for Mackellar in question time today, particularly whether her conduct amounted to persistently and wilfully causing disorder in the House in that, on five separate occasions, she raised the same point of order knowing that she had been overruled on the earlier occasions? This is conduct that, when done by members of the opposition, normally draws a stern rebuke from you, Mr Speaker, and I ask you to consider whether the member for Mackellar should be directed to consider leaving her points of order until questions are fully asked.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will respond to the question raised by the Manager of Opposition Business. The Manager of Opposition Business would be well aware that the same or similar points of order have been raised by members on both sides of the chamber. I normally listen to them before I decide on whether or how to respond and, accordingly, I put that in the same context.