Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025
The SPEAKER (09:59): The member for Fisher has indicated that he wants to raise a point of order. Mr Wallace: Yes, thanks, Mr Speaker. I just want to raise this to your attention, and this goes to the neutrality of the chair, which is a fundamental principle of this place.
The member for Wentworth stood in her place trying to speak on the amendments moved by the member for Indi. Madam Deputy Speaker Claydon, who was in the chair at the time, did not give the member for Wentworth the call. The members on this side of the House were alerting the Deputy Speaker to the member for Wentworth being on her feet.
This is not the first time this has happened, and I would ask that you inquire into the issue. Every single member in— The SPEAKER: Okay, resume your seat. You've made your point.
Resume your seat. It's not a speech or a statement. You've raised the issue at the first opportunity to speak.
I understand that. I'm aware of the issue, and I'll give a statement regarding the issue, but I'll hear from the Leader of the House first. Mr Burke: Just to the point of order, I'd remind the member of standing order 47, which allows motions to suspend standing orders to be moved at any time.
That's exactly what happened. The SPEAKER: Yes. The standing order enables, mid-sentence or mid-behaviour, for that to be moved.
I like to give, and all the chairs like to give, all members a fair go, and I think that has been evident. I disagree with the member's statement—the way that it was phrased. What will also help is if the House is in order and there are not people just standing around and making interjections, as I believe occurred at the time.
Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: No, we're not going any further with this. I've given a statement to the House. I've recognised that.
But I want to reinforce what the Leader of the House says: at any time under that standing order—during a debate, when someone's on their feet or not on their feet—a suspension motion can be moved. So that is the standing order. If you're not happy with the standing order, I can appreciate that, but they're the rules that we all operate under.
Now we're going to move to the unresolved question on the amendments moved by the member for Indi. The question is that amendments (3) and (4) moved by the honourable member for Indi be agreed to.