Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, please—

A point of order: the standard of a senator making an unconditional withdrawal by repeating the accusation and the words that are offensive is not the standard we expect in the Senate. Senator Roberts ought to know better. He did not arrive simply yesterday. If he is going to flout your rulings, your directions, and then really disregard all the appropriate standards of this chamber I think you ought to reconsider your powers under standing order 203.

Thank you, Senator Marshall. Senator Roberts, it is not within the culture of this place and it is not within the standing order to part-withdraw and then make a further comment. I asked you to withdraw the imputation. I have asked you also in the remainder of the three minutes and 22 seconds you have left not to make further imputations. I would ask you simply to categorically withdraw the imputation.