Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, the—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Griffith will resume her seat. I have called the Leader of the House.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have some machinery things to do. There are a couple of machinery things. Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and the Proceedings. Mr Speaker, you have advice regarding this.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, and they are tabled. The Leader of the House can resume his seat for a second.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Griffith stood up while the Prime Minister was on his feet. This is a deliberate intervention from the Leader of the House so that the Prime Minister can leave before we vote on whether or not the marriage equality bill comes in. That is exactly what is happening right now. The Leader of the House has done it deliberately. He was given notice. This is all about the Prime Minister shuffling out before the debate begins.

Mr Pasin interjecting—

Mr Hawke interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Barker! I have heard the Manager of Opposition Business but, can I say to the Manager of Opposition Business, at the conclusion of question time we always do papers and then we move to legislation. I am going to deal with committee membership, which will take less time than we have taken arguing this point, and then we can move on to other business.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Members of parliament are allowed to seek leave at any time. That is what is allowed under the standing—

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right will cease interjecting.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When a member is on her feet at the same time that the Prime Minister is standing at the dispatch box seeking the call, it is impossible to have a situation that the call then goes to the Leader of the House. We, very regularly, will have questions to you before we go to papers. We, very regularly, will deal with other matters. It happens more often than not.

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. We are not going to spend a long period of time on this. Those on my right will not interject. I am going to refer the Manager of Opposition Business to the practice with respect to the Prime Minister getting the call to end question time. It is very clear. The Prime Minister can seek the call, whether a question is being asked, whether it is midway through an answer—and that is what I did. I naturally looked to the Leader of the House, because we do papers at the end of question time. If members do not inform me that they are going to jump on something—most do, I have to say. That is the convention in this place. I hate to labour the point, but that is the convention in this place. Indeed, the member for Sydney came—

Mr Pasin interjecting—

Mr Hawke interjecting—

Whoever is interjecting on my right—the member for Mitchell is warned. The member for Sydney ensured that I was ready for her to take a personal explanation. I have heard the Manager of Opposition Business. We are not going to waste any more time on this.