Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to draw your attention, Mr Speaker, to yesterday’s matter of public importance in which Independent members wished to participate but, under existing arrangements for the business of the House, were unable to do so until the Leader of the House moved a suspension of standing orders to enable Independent members to participate in the debate. Mr Speaker, one of your important responsibilities is to protect the rights of members of this House, including Independent members.

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Bruce Scott interjecting

Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you want to become an Independent, Bruce, you can. Independent members should be able to participate in matters of public importance without having to rely on the Leader of the House suspending standing orders to do so. I would be grateful, Mr Speaker, if you might consider this matter that I have raised.

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

The first proviso I would make to the member for New England is that I am not going to revisit actions of the House on an earlier occasion. The House dealt with that matter yesterday in what appeared to be to you and your two Independent colleagues a satisfactory manner. I would simply say that the chair has some difficulties under the standing orders because some of these things are done by agreement. A lot of things that happen around here are through the understanding of the different tendencies of the chamber. If there is a solution that the member for New England can suggest that might be proposed to the Procedure Committee for their study, I would suggest that that would be a course of action. As he and his two colleagues know, my door is open to continuing discussions about any grievance that they might have.