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

Mr Speaker, you will have noted that we only had seven questions from this side of the House today, whereas the normal procedure allows for 10. The reason the Prime Minister gave for cutting question time short was time. Will you examine the length of answers that were given today? House of Representatives Practice clearly indicates that answers should be relevant to the question. Today, if you examine the Hansard, you will find that a number of the ravings from ministers opposite were clearly outside of the question which was asked.

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

I say in response to the Manager of Opposition Business that he would be well aware that question time ends when the Prime Minister, or a senior minister, asks that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. It is not the responsibility of the chair to dictate when that point will come. In response to his second question about the length of answers, he would be aware that successive occupiers of the chair have often had difficulties with that issue but, as the standing order does not put a time limit on answers, it is not within the purview of the chair to put a strict time limit on answers.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, further to the question just raised by the Manager of Opposition Business: when considering the length of question time, would you consider the time lost today by the deliberate and coordinated disruption of the first question from the Leader of the Opposition to the Prime Minister?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop interjecting

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, if you want me to cease speaking in order to warn the member for Mackellar, I will.

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

I have listened carefully to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Has the Deputy Leader of the Opposition finished her question?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I am asking you to consider the deliberate disruption by the government today of the Leader of the Opposition’s first question. It was entirely orchestrated.

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

I do not propose to revisit question time. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition may be aware some disciplinary action was taken. On the other part of her question, I have already responded to the Manager of Opposition Business. I do not propose to add anything further.