Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

No, I am in a position to rule and I really think delaying question time in this way then becomes disruptive. So the Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat.

I understand the proposition that is being put to me but the decision about that, as I said earlier, is in my hands about whether it is being disruptive. But I really think that perhaps one of the things that the House could look at is that, when people are offered the opportunity to state a point of order, it is simply what the point of order is; it is not an opportunity to add. I will invite people if I need clarification. To paraphrase parts of a question is not in any way making the case of relevance—or not any more accurate. In fact, my concern about the particular point of order—and this gets to matters that have been discussed this week—is whether there is an inference that should be dealt with in some other form by the House in the part of the question that was highlighted by the member for Cook. The Treasurer is responding to the question and the Treasurer has the call.

See this speech in context