Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I draw your attention to standing order 73—I know you know it, but I'll repeat it for everyone—which says:

(1) The following rules shall apply to questions:

questions shall not contain:

…   …   …

(b)   arguments;

(c)   inferences;

(d)   imputations;

That question is clearly an argument, and it's clearly debate about political matters. It is not asking a question. Mr President, you may say other presidents have allowed this, but, if we're not going to stand by the standing orders, why don't we amend them or get rid of them? If they're there, we should follow them.