Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, may I first say that I meant you no disrespect—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And I assure the member for Hinkler that I did not take it as showing disrespect.

Paul Neville (Hinkler, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you closely read the standing order on seeking leave, it says that, if no-one in the House objects then that course of action should occur. It has been the process of the House, through the Leader of the House, to either accept or deny the tabling of a document. In this instance, the Leader of the House, with his normal generosity of spirit, said that if I wheeled it around to his office he would have a look at it. But at no time did either side of the House object to my document. I believe that in those terms I have the right to have it tabled.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for Hinkler, the reason I was not going to proceed at the time was correct. The Leader of the House does not need to see the document to determine whether or not he would accept it: that is not correct practice. The member for Hinkler is right in that. But I did hear the Leader of the House say no. If you did not, I apologise, but there was a large amount of noise at the time. From now on I will be insisting that members do come to the dispatch box and indicate whether they will or will not accept the document, but there is no requirement for the document to be sighted before that decision has been made.