Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Acting Deputy President, on that point of order: the words I used were in no way objectionable. They were disputing a ruling that you had made. Of course, that must be part of the discourse on the floor of this chamber; otherwise, we would remove from the floor of the chamber the right to make determinations that would go to the chair. That is not how the Senate is constituted. The Senate is constituted so that the chair provides protection equally to all members, and, when there is a dispute between the chair and the members, that may be heard. I was respectful at all times. I put a point very clearly, in that you had not provided me with that protection in the way that we see of other senators. That was reasonable. You have now said you will from here on in. I am quite content with that. But my remark was in order at the time, and I am not going to withdraw it.