Question Time

Speaker, Election

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): My question is to the Premier. Given the Marshall Liberal government was elected with a 25-seat majority to this place, can the Premier please explain to the house why only 21 votes were delivered to the member for Flinders in the ballot for the Speakership yesterday evening?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, deputy leader!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The Premier and, in fact, no member of this house is responsible to this house for the results of ballots. The Leader of the Opposition is asking the Premier to reflect on the result of a vote in this house—completely inappropriate.

The SPEAKER: I have considered the submissions made by the Leader of Government Business and I find them persuasive. I uphold the point of order, but I am going to allow the leader to ask a further question.