MOTIONS

Mr TEHAN (Wannon—Manager of Opposition Business) (15:13): I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member from Wannon from moving the following censure motion immediately: This House censures the Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs for comments made today at the National Press Club— The SPEAKER: Just pause.

The Leader of the House. Mr Burke: I move— Mr Tehan interjecting— Mr Burke: Do I have the call? Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order!

The manager will resume his seat. The House is not going to do anything until it comes to order. The manager was on his feet.

The Leader of the House is entitled to make a point of order when he requires, as has happened before. So we're just going to ask everyone—I know this is an important issue for the manager, but we've got to follow the norms of the House as well. And the decorum of the House is important.

I know everyone thinks that. I'm just going to invite the manager, and I want the House to deal with this in a sensitive and appropriate way under the rules. The manager is seeking to suspend the House.

He has moved— Mr Tehan interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order. Unfortunately, as has happened before many times—this is probably disappointing for the manager, but this is allowed under the House. This is what occurs.

This is not new. This happens on a regular basis. This has happened since I've been in parliament.

The Leader of the House. Mr Burke: Did he now move the motion if that's what he's doing? Opposition members interjecting— Mr Burke: He read it out and moved it.

He hasn't given his speech. I'm allowed to ask the question. The SPEAKER: Yes, we'll just deal with that.

The leader is seeking, 'Has the motion been moved?' and that— Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Alright. We're just going to get the manager to move the motion. He gets that entitlement under the rules.

But there was a lot of noise, so, for him to successfully do that, I require the House to listen to what the manager is saying. Mr TEHAN: Thanks, Speaker. I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Wannon from moving the following motion immediately: That this House censures the minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs for comments made today at the National Press Club wherein the minister called former Prime Minister Sir Robert Gordon Menzies a Nazi appeaser.

This is an utter, utter disgrace. The SPEAKER: Resume your seat. The manager has now, under the provisions of the House, moved his motion.

I now call the Leader of the House.