Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise with a question for you, Mr Speaker: how do you intend to handle the approach of ministers when they're asked a question about policy and then turn to a generalised attack on the previous government?

Government members interjecting —

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I can't hear the question.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was a well-understood practice under Speaker Smith in relation to questions that asked for an analysis of alternative policies. In all of the questions we have had today there has been no attempt to even put in that line about alternative policies. They have simply been purportedly questions about the government's plan, but it seems that most ministers want to spend a lot of their time criticising the previous government. I ask you, Mr Speaker—and this is an important issue—how will you be handling that?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just on that point, Leader of the House?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I also ask you when you're looking back over question time for the last couple of days to consider with respect to the number of points of order whether there is in fact now a new point of order for relevance deprivation, because the number that we're getting is absurd.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank both the Manager of Opposition Business and the Leader of the House. I will take that under consideration and report back to both of them.