Parliamentary Procedure

Speaker's Ruling

The SPEAKER (15:07): The leader queried one of my rulings. Hansard has provided a record of what the Leader of the Opposition had to say when asking a question. He said:

My question is to the Premier, and I am hoping he can answer this question and provide an explanation to the house as to why—

That's out of order. It's just unnecessary material. It's not asking a question.

Mr MARSHALL: You said it contained argument. What was the argument it contained?

The SPEAKER: It's just bumph.

Mr MARSHALL: Specifically, sir, you made in your ruling, which you provided to the house, that it contained argument. I would be very keen to know where the argument in that was.

The SPEAKER: Yes, 'may not offer argument or opinion, nor may a Member offer any facts except by leave of the House'.

Mr MARSHALL: Can the Speaker outline whether there was argument or comment or material to the house?

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is warned for the second and final time.

Mr MARSHALL: Sir, if you could just provide clarification?

The SPEAKER: The clarification is: when you've got the call to ask a question, ask a question. Don't share with the house your hopes and fears for how the question is going to turn out—

Mr MARSHALL: But is this a new ruling?

The SPEAKER: —or whether it is going to be answered.

Mr MARSHALL: Well, for clarification, sir—

The SPEAKER: No, it's not clarification. Please sit down and let the member—

Mr MARSHALL: This is two rulings already today.

The SPEAKER: Please—

Mr MARSHALL: Earlier, it was about argument or opinion—

The SPEAKER: If the leader does not sit down, I will name him. He is just disrupting the house with a quarrel. The member for Morialta.