QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (15:01): I just gave a speech about social cohesion. We are— Honourable members interjecting— Mr ALBANESE: I make three points. Point 1—I have nothing but contempt for anyone who has any sympathy for ISIS.
I would hope everyone in this chamber would agree. It should not be an issue of partisanship. Point 2—the government has provided no assistance for these people.
Point 3—any breaches of the law will mean that these people will face the full force of the law to the extent available upon the advice of the security agencies. Mr Tehan interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Prime Minister has concluded his answer. Mr Tehan: I seek to table a document.
It's the notes from the Minister for Home Affairs' meeting with Save the Children, which refer to— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! If the manager is seeking to table a document— Government members interjecting— Mr Tehan: I did. I said I'm seeking to table—because there was so much noise.
It's about your notes. Leave not granted. The SPEAKER: A member can table a document, but resume your seat.
Mr Tehan: Yes, thank you. The SPEAKER: That's no problem. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: If the manager wants to put it on record that he wanted to table— Mr Tehan interjecting— The SPEAKER: That's why I said he was seeking to table a document—so it was on the record.
But the manager wishes to go through this. He's done— Government members interjecting— Mr Tehan: They turned the microphone off, and there was noise. So I'm allowed to table the document.
Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: We'll deal with this. I understand where the manager is coming from. The microphone wasn't turned on because— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order!
I understand where he's coming from, and I'm trying to help him out here. Mr Burke: In the first instance, the member has made a reflection on the Speaker in terms of the microphone being turned off. For every member of this House, if you don't have the call, your microphone is not on.
If you decide to stand up and speak without having the call, your microphone is not going to be on. That's not a reflection on the Speaker. I would add, second to that, that the Speaker then put directly to the House, 'Is leave granted?'—for the document that you were requesting to be tabled to be tabled—and the answer was no.
Mr Tehan interjecting— The SPEAKER: The manager wishes to clarify this matter for the benefit of the House. Mr Tehan: I wasn't making a reflection on the Speaker. It's not the Speaker who turns the microphone off; it's done by Broadcasting.
Government members interjecting— Mr Tehan: No, but Broadcasting— The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right! Let's give the manager a fair go. Mr Tehan: As you know, Mr Speaker, from years of experience on this side, they shouldn't turn the microphone off until the Speaker has said, 'Resume'— A government member interjecting— Mr Tehan: Then they shouldn't turn it off.
He'd given me the call. Dr Garland interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Chisholm is now warned. Manager, you've made your point.
The microphone is now on. You've made that point; it's on the record. You've asked to table a document; leave hasn't been granted.
We'll now move on to the next question. Mr Tehan: But I didn't get the chance to say what document it is. The document is the notes from Save the Children for their meeting with the Minister for Home Affairs— The SPEAKER: You've made your point.
Mr Tehan: and that's an important aspect— The SPEAKER: Resume your seat. For an abundance of clarity, it is up to the Speaker's discretion. It is not Broadcasting's call; it is my call as to when the call is assigned.
But we have now dealt with it. The manager has been given a fair go. We will now move on.
I just hope everyone understands the process now. It has been a good learning experience for everyone.