Naming and Suspension of Member

The member’s behaviour is quite disorderly. The member leaves me no choice but to name him. The question now is, That the Hon Richard Prebble be suspended from the service of the House. All those in favour please say “Aye”, to the contrary, “No”. The Ayes have it.

💬 Hon Richard Prebble: The Noes have it.

Is—

💬 Hon Richard Prebble: If you knew the rules, you would know what happens next. I am entitled to have a vote. Are you not even going to give me that?

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. We now find ourselves in a peculiar situation. I know we are dealing with a procedural matter, but it is past 6 o’clock, which is the time to lift the House. My understanding of the Standing Orders is that even though we are dealing with a procedural issue, when 6 o’clock comes we must lift the House and we cannot continue on. I think we will find ourselves in a bind if we try to deal with a matter now, past the time that the Standing Orders say the House should lift. I know it is a peculiarity, but I think we are in a conundrum.

The question was put—

💬 Hon Richard Prebble: You are not following the right rules. It is outrageous.

The member will be silent. The vote will be put.

The member is suspended from the service of the House. [Interruption] I call the Serjeant-at-Arms. The member will please leave the House. The member has been suspended; it has been voted on. Would the member please leave the House.

💬 Hon Richard Prebble: No. [Interruption]

The vote was being put on the third reading before 6 o’clock.

💬 Hon Richard Prebble: It was not put. The Hansard will show that it was not put.

I have been advised that I have to finish the vote.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. If I may, I will talk on that particular point. I was on the phone at the time that the member Tariana Turia resumed her seat, having made a very good contribution to the debate, I might say—I was able to listen partly to the debate. I then looked around and realised that no other members at that stage looked as though they were seeking a call—the member had sat down, having finished a little earlier than her 10 minutes. Even though I was on the phone, while you were in the middle of looking to put the question, I sought the call.

💬 Hon Richard Prebble: That is dead right. So did I.

Hang on, just let me finish; I am on a point of order. Again, while it is your prerogative, there have been many occasions in the past when Speakers have then said to members: “Well, look, I am in the middle of putting this, but given that the member is now seeking the call and there is opportunity, it would be appropriate; but the member must rise more quickly.” That has been a common occurrence. I want to make the point to you. Firstly, there is precedent for allowing a call to be taken, even though you may be in the middle of putting the question. Secondly, you have a right, even though you may be halfway through doing that, to decide to allow a member to continue a call, when the times are not used up. I would ask you to reflect on that—that there is plenty of precedent, in these circumstances, to allow me, who sought the call, or other members even, to carry on with the debate.

The debate had not been completed, and the situation was brought about because the member resumed her seat early. As I say, even though you were in the middle of putting the question, I did rise to take a call. I would ask you to reflect on that, and on whether, given the precedents on many occasions, it might have been appropriate in this case to allow the call to be taken. Indeed, we are now at the stage when we are well past six o’clock, and we need to lift the House.

💬 Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, we will not do that.

Hon Richard Prebble withdrew from the Chamber.