Lindsay Tanner (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, my question relates to the legitimate freedom of expression of members during parliamentary proceedings. Earlier in question time, you required the Leader of the Opposition to withdraw an interjection that was directed at the Attorney-General which in effect accused him of vilifying asylum seekers. This is a legitimate political claim. Whether or not you agree with it, it is a legitimate political claim that has been put in this House by many members, me included last night, and has not been required to be withdrawn. Could you indicate to the House in what circumstances, when a withdrawal is requested, you would decline to require a withdrawal. If, for example, a circumstance arose where I accused the minister for workplace relations of driving down workers’ wages, would I be required to withdraw in those circumstances?

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

Order! The member will not debate his question. I will make two points. The member for Melbourne really should raise his point at the time but, since he has raised the question with me, the response is: if he looks at House of Representatives Practice, I think on page 499 or 500, it talks about not only the actual words but the context in which they are used and the climate at the time and, accordingly, the occupier of the chair at the time has to rule on the spot.