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

The motion before the chair is the suspension of standing and sessional orders. Is the motion seconded?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion. The AWB ‘wheat for weapons’ scandal just gets worse and worse—

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

I move:

That the member be no longer heard.

A division having been called and the bells having been rung—

Order! Lock the doors. Lock the doors.

Mr Albanese interjecting

The member for Grayndler will be aware that there is a division under way. He can take a point of order, but he will take it sitting.

Mr Speaker, seven government members entered the chamber well after the division was over. They should exclude themselves from this division.

I remind the member for Grayndler that, until tellers are appointed, members may enter provided the doors are not locked. The doors have now been locked.

Mr Speaker, on the point of order: given the ruling you have just made, how is it possible to get into the chamber if the doors have been locked and the tellers have not been appointed? How does your ruling that the time in which people are allowed to participate in a division is when the tellers are appointed sit with the locking of the doors?

I thank the member for Grayndler. I make the point that, once the doors are locked, members are then expected to move quickly to their seats. Obviously, once the doors are locked they cannot come in.

Mr Speaker, further to the point of order: there was a considerable gap in time between when one minute had expired and the doors were locked. After you declared that the time had expired, seven government members entered the chamber.

When I ask for the doors to be locked, I expect staff to move quickly to lock the doors, and I am sure that they did.

Question put.

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

I call the Leader of the House.

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—

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had indicated to the Speaker that I wished to approach the box. Mr Speaker, I wish to indicate that I withdraw unconditionally any imputation or offensive words against the member for Wills.