Chris Pearce (Aston, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the note was not from me, but I have a question for you. I would like to seek your clarification on standing orders. During question time today the Leader of the House stood on a point of order and then proceeded to debate the point of order, which I understand is against standing orders. I rose to make a point of order and to bring to your attention that the Leader of the House was in fact debating that point of order. Standing order 86(a) says a member may raise a point of order with the Speaker at any time, which is what I sought to do; however, you did not give me the call. Could you clarify whether a member can or cannot raise a point of order or seek to raise a point of order with you at any time.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My first proviso is that I am not encouraging this sort of questioning of things that happen during question time. But, as it happened only a few moments ago and I did offer him the chance to make a point of order, I will tell the member for Aston that if he goes off and does his homework and reads the House of Representatives Practice he will see that that was well within what has happened in the past. I think that I could have anticipated what you were actually going to say. I was willing to let the Leader of the House finish and then give you the opportunity to raise your point of order at that point in time. It was not a matter of denying you the right to have your point of order; it is a debate about what ‘immediate’ actually means. If you look at the precedents that are covered by the House of Representatives Practice you will see that that has happened in the past.