House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Treasurer's Remarks TREASURER'S REMARKS The Hon. I.F. EVANS House of Assembly Davenport 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr PISONI: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: We can't have two points of order at one time. Member for Unley, sit down. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr Pisoni: Give us the number. The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I think it is 137, if you don't interrupt. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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.