John Hogg (President) Share this | Hansard source

During question time on 15 September 2009 Senator Evans took a point of order and alleged that Senator Cormann had been ‘making a series of gestures towards government ministers’. I indicated that I had not seen the alleged conduct complained of, and I undertook to review the videotape and report back to the Senate if necessary. The video recording of proceedings in the chamber does not show the alleged activity, as the recording shows only the senator asking the question and the minister answering.

During the discussion on the point of order Senator Cormann indicated that he was counting with his fingers the number of questions that were being asked. An occasional incident of such activity, like an occasional interjection, may not be disruptive of the proceedings and out of order, but it is obvious that if the making of gestures became a regular feature of debate in the chamber, and if many senators frequently engaged in that activity, it would be disruptive of the proceedings and not conducive to orderly debate. Successive presidents have ruled that it is not in order to hold up newspapers or placards with slogans or to display objects or to wear clothing bearing slogans. The basis of these rulings is that such activity would not only be disruptive of orderly debate but would allow senators to intervene in debate other than by receiving the call from the chair and participating in debate in accordance with the rules of the Senate. Frequently making hand gestures would obviously be disorderly for the same reason.

I therefore ask senators not to engage in that kind of conduct, but to observe the standing orders relating to the orderly conduct of question time and other proceedings.