John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, on a point of order: Senator Macdonald is effectively making a personal explanation about a matter that occurred in question time. It is totally fair enough that that be done, but ordinarily it requires leave; and, by convention in this place, these personal explanations are made after the conclusion of taking note of answers. I do not in any way want to stop Senator Macdonald from making any of the points he cares to make but, given the nature of this current contribution, the tradition is that it ought to conform with longstanding precedent and convention in the chamber.