Business of the House

I seek the leave of the House for Shane Jones to take the Committee Chairperson’s position.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Marian Hobbs): Is leave agreed to?

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Is it to take the Chair?

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Marian Hobbs): It is to take the Chair of the Committee of the whole House. We are about to shift into the Committee of the whole House.

Madam Assistant Speaker, this is really, really unusual.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Marian Hobbs): Yes, it is unusual.

I am loath to give leave to make a precedent. [Interruption] This is actually a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker. I am loath to give leave for what I believe is a precedent-setting event like this. I have never seen it in my time in the House. I know I have not been here for very long this second time, but I am just wondering whether if we get into this it may become a habit.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Marian Hobbs): Thank you very much. I understand the point of order the member is making but I reassure him that it does not set a precedent. Is leave given for the Hon Shane Jones to be Chair of the Committee? There is objection. We will just have to wait until Mr Simich comes. I am sorry about that, but leave has been refused for a temporary Chairperson to be appointed.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. When a person denies leave in the House, it is his or her right to do that.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Marian Hobbs): Absolutely.

On several occasions you have, without naming me—but there are cameras so that makes it a wee bit difficult—indicated that I am the culprit in this. Can I assure the House that I denied leave for the reasons I gave before. I hope that the House is not trying to hang me out to dry as the bad guy.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Marian Hobbs): I would never consider that at all in regard to the member.

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Can I seek some clarification, maybe not right now, but when we get to look into it a bit more, of the whole process of who comes, and when he or she sits in the Chair?

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Marian Hobbs): Yes, I am willing to either do a report to the House or just talk to the member quietly.