PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:53): Mr Speaker, you will be delighted to know that my question is to you, as you, under standing order 144, are responsible to maintain decorum and dignity of the house. My question is: do you consider that the Attorney-General's failure to participate in debate and not attend for a vote without leave concerning the referral of the Mr Eugene McGee motion today has lowered the dignity of the house?

The SPEAKER (14:54): No, I don't. No, I most certainly do not. The question is out of order. The deputy leader is on two warnings. Strictly, she should go out for that frivolous and vexatious point of order.

An honourable member: It was a question.

The SPEAKER: Well, it is completely out of order and it is also contrary to the customs and conventions of the house to refer to the presence or absence of any member. All members are deemed to be in the chamber all the time by convention and I note that it took the deputy leader eight or nine months to bring the motion on for debate.

Ms CHAPMAN: I seek a point of clarification, Mr Speaker. The vote that was taken this morning is recorded on the Hansard. It is in fact recorded. It is not a question of whether you are in or out; you have to be in to be counted. So, I agree with you entirely, of course, in relation to the absence and reference to someone if they are not present in the chamber for the debate, but I am specifically referring to the attendance for the purpose of the vote without leave of a pair in the house. Do you consider that to have been a diminution of the dignity of the house?

The SPEAKER: No.

Mrs GERAGHTY: I am not sure if this is a point of order, sir, but I think for the record I should say I did ask for a pair for the Attorney-General who was unable to be here for the vote. I asked to change it—

Ms Chapman: Don't mislead the house, Robyn.

Mrs GERAGHTY: —and they refused.

Mr Gardner: While the bells were ringing.

Mrs GERAGHTY: While the bells were ringing, that is right, you refused.

The SPEAKER: The member for Torrens will be seated. This is the last I wish to hear of this matter. The member for Little Para.