Speaker, Election

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:30): My question is again to you, Mr Speaker. As you are still a member of the Liberal Party, did you discuss becoming the Speaker with members of the Labor Party or Independent members before announcing you would resign from the Liberal Party late on Friday afternoon last week?

The SPEAKER (14:30): Member for Hammond, I think this is a matter of administrative detail and I'm not sure that I'm necessarily responsible to the house for it. It also risks reflecting on a vote of the house. What I can say is that I can refer you to comments made by the member for Florey. She was questioned in quite some detail by government members in relation to this issue. Her answers were very informative. If you have a question in relation to government business, I will take that. Do you have a question in relation to government business?

Mr PEDERICK: Well, Mr Speaker, in relation to that, and a further question in that line of questioning, you were supposedly elected as an Independent with all the talk that went on for hours yesterday and it's proven today that that is not so.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The member is now reflecting on a vote of the house and that is disorderly.

The SPEAKER: He certainly is. I warn the member for Hammond. I have informed the member for Hammond that the correspondence, I imagine, has been prepared or is rapidly being prepared. It's a matter of administrative detail. We are in the house, my electorate office is located quite some distance from this place and I am sure that these administrative matters will be taken care of appropriately and in due course. Further questions?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir: with respect, I understand what you are saying about a matter of administrative detail.

The SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: That's about whether you are a member of the Liberal Party or not, but the substance of the question was: did you discuss becoming Speaker with any Labor MPs or any Independent MPs before announcing that you would leave the Liberal Party?

The SPEAKER: I have already ruled in relation to this matter. Are there further questions?