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

Mr Speaker, I have a question to you. During question time, the member for Grayndler asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage a question in which he referred to two conflicting views with respect to the future of the Daintree rainforest and then concluded by asking the minister which of these two views he agreed with. You then ruled out the last part of the question on the grounds that it was ‘unnecessary’. I ask whether you could advise the House under which standing order this part of the question was ruled out.

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

I thank the member for Melbourne. He would be well aware that the last part of that question was asking for an opinion.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

I have ruled on the matter.

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

Mr Speaker, with respect, the question did not ask for an opinion; it asked whether the minister agreed with one statement or another.

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

The member for Melbourne is debating his point. I have ruled on the matter.

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 raise a point of order. Can I ask you to clarify on what basis it is then ruled in order for the government to conclude questions: ‘Are there any alternate views?’

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

The Manager of Opposition Business would be well aware that I think she has raised a different matter. I ruled on the question, and I am not revisiting that ruling.

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

On the point of order, Mr Speaker: I am not raising a different matter. If it is hypothetical to ask for commentary on views then it must be hypothetical and seeking an opinion when asked by all sides. We cannot have a circumstance where questions asking ‘Are there any alternate views?’ are ruled in order and questions from this side that canvass alternate views are ruled out of order.

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

I thank the Manager of Opposition Business. Can I make it quite clear that I do not believe asking about alternate views is asking for an opinion. It is quite a different matter.