John Hogg (President) Share this | Hansard source

I table a statement about matters raised during question time today. With the concurrence of the Senate, the terms of the statement will be incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

Statement by the President —matters raised during question time on 11 May 2010

Earlier today, Senator Bob Brown took a point of order about the use of the term ‘illegal entrants’ by Senator Brandis in a question directed to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Evans. Senator Brown claimed that as the description was arguable it was therefore contrary to standing order 73. Although I informed the Senate that I had ruled before on this question, I undertook to have a look at it.

I have ruled before on several occasions that terms of this nature are not out of order. My rulings are in accordance with established rules of the Senate.

Standing order 73 prevents the use of arguments, inferences or imputations, among other things, in questions. The fact that the accuracy of a term is disputed does not mean that it amounts to an argument, an inference or an imputation. It was on this basis that I ruled that the term was not out of order.

Past Presidents have ruled over many decades that it is not the role of the Chair to judge the accuracy or truthfulness of senators’ statements, and that statements by senators are not out of order merely on the basis that they are alleged to be inaccurate. This is a matter for refutation in debate, and not a question of order for the Chair.