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representatives vote 2019-11-27#25

Edited by mackay staff

on 2020-01-03 16:24:12

Title

  • Documents Gillard, Ms Julia Eileen, Ac; Presentation
  • Documents - Gillard, Ms Julia Eileen, Ac; Presentation - Stop MP Albanese from speaking

Description

  • <p class="speaker">Christian Porter</p>
  • <p>I am going to table a document, which is a letter from the Prime Minister to you, Mr Speaker, a copy of which I've also provided to you.</p>
  • <p>The letter does correct the record regarding the attribution of a statement, being a statement setting out the fact of an investigation with respect to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard was in existence at the relevant time. I would note that that does not change the fact which remains, that there was such an investigation with respect to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard in existence, but I will simply table that document.</p>
  • The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debates/?id=2019-11-27.176.2) "*That the Leader of the Opposition be no longer heard.*" Motions like these are known as *gagging motions*.
  • <p class="speaker">Chris Bowen</p>
  • <p>You could have just said this in the debate!</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Tony Smith</p>
  • <p>The document is tabled. The member for McMahon is complicating the situation and preventing the Leader of the Opposition from seeking the call.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Anthony Albanese</p>
  • <p>Thank you, Mr Speaker, on indulgence, given the statement and given that we weren't given the courtesy of&#8212;</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Tony Smith</p>
  • <p>I will just ask the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat. Obviously, this places the chair in a difficult position. The minister, as I know the Leader of the Opposition will appreciate, is perfectly entitled to table any document. The minister is perfectly entitled to table any document, and to do so without leave, which he's done. That document, which you'll see, I haven't read yet; it's just before me now. As a courtesy he writes to me with respect to question time today, so that document's now been tabled. As I said yesterday, as much as it pains me, I can't allow a precedent for indulgences to be followed. Perhaps the best course&#8212;</p>
  • <p class="italic">Mr Albanese interjecting&#8212;</p>
  • <p>Yes, I know you are. Obviously, it's open to the Leader of the Opposition to take other action, as indeed he did yesterday. What I suggest now is that the letter's been tabled, the Leader of the Opposition has a copy of it and I can't grant him indulgence to continue the debate of question time, no matter what the circumstances. What I'd really need to do is probably just move to the next item. The Leader of the Opposition.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Anthony Albanese</p>
  • <p>I was trying to save the parliament some time.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Tony Smith</p>
  • <p>I understand that.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Anthony Albanese</p>
  • <p>If need be, I will move that so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition to respond to the actions of the Leader of the House in tabling the letter from the Prime Minister.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Tony Smith</p>
  • <p>Are you asking leave or are you moving?</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Anthony Albanese</p>
  • <p>No, I'm moving:</p>
  • <p class="italic">That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from responding to the actions of the Leader of the House in tabling the letter from the Prime Minister.</p>
  • <p>What we saw today is a misleading&#8212;</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Christian Porter</p>
  • <p>I move:</p>
  • <p>That the Leader of the Opposition be no longer heard.</p>
  • <p class="speaker">Tony Smith</p>
  • <p>The question is that the member be no longer heard.</p>