John Hogg (President) Share this | Hansard source

On the last point of order, there was no attempt at any time to deny Senator Abetz the right to ask his primary question—at no time. Senator Abetz received the call, stood up and asked his question. That is what Senator Abetz did. I called him as I call everyone. The other thing that I want to address very briefly is that I said that I would take this away and consider it and come back with further comments to the chamber. This is not a precedent for any other part of the operation of this chamber. I completely refute that. This is simply about keeping order in question time.

Before question time, I am given a copy of the order of questions in question time. The order of questions in question time—and I can read it out for those who would like it read—reasonably distributes questions between the opposition, the government, the minor parties and the Independents in this place. It is still within the province of the opposition, having had that question ruled out of order, to have a member who will receive the call at a later stage in question time ask that question. It can be asked at that stage with a request for leave in the first instance, as it should have been asked—in my view—by Senator Abetz.