TREASURER'S REMARKS

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:52): My question, Madam Speaker, is to you. Given your ruling today on the privilege matter, can you please explain to the house how the allegation of a minister misleading the house does not touch on privilege? Speaker Lewis, in March 2003—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker: it is not open to debate your ruling in an explanation. There are standing orders.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Well, you can dress a duck up in a tuxedo, if you want, but it's still a duck. The truth is—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: We can't have two points of order at one time. Member for Unley, sit down.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I do apologise for responding to interruptions, which I shouldn't do. My point of order for this is—

Mr Pisoni: Give us the number.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I think it is 137, if you don't interrupt.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: There are clear standing orders that protect rulings of the Speaker. One cannot dissent in a ruling of the Speaker, except according to the standing orders. There is no use dressing up a debate of your ruling, Madam Speaker, in a question. That is my point of order.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER (15:54): Order, member for MacKillop! As to the point of order raised by the Minister for Transport, as the member for Davenport was speaking, I was thinking along similar lines. I believe you are questioning my ruling. Normally a speaker is not asked to justify their reasons, particularly in question time. I am happy to talk to you after this, but I did set out very carefully the reasons why I had decided that this wasn't a matter of privilege. I am happy to discuss them with you afterwards.