Visitors — Cook Islands—Speaker, House of Representatives

Members, I have much pleasure in informing the House that the Speaker of the Cook Islands House of Representatives, the Hon Niki Rattle, is within the precincts of this Chamber. I am sure members would wish that she be welcomed and accorded a seat on the left of the Chair.

The Hon Niki Rattle, accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, entered the Chamber and took a seat on the left of the Chair.

The right honourable Prime Minister.

Mr Speaker.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The right honourable Prime Minister.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order.

Mr Speaker.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Well—

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The Prime Minister has—

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order. He has not asked for a point of order. I have.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: But I have taken the Prime Minister as having called a point of order.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am raising a point of order, and now.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: I have already recognised the right honourable Prime Minister. The member will resume his seat.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Mr Speaker, I am raising a point of order, which is my right to do.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have already recognised the Prime Minister for a point of order. The member will resume his seat. I have recognised the Prime Minister for a point of order. The Prime Minister will raise his point of order, then the member may raise his point of order, should he wish.

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Mr Speaker.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: I am on my feet!

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well, can I conclude with my—

💬 Mr SPEAKER: No, the member will actually leave the House, unless he actually complies with my rulings. It is very simple. I will not tolerate that kind of nonsense. The member can raise his point of order when he gets his chance. I have recognised the Prime Minister. [Interruption] Order! Order! Members will resume their seats. I am on my feet. This nonsense will stop. The Speaker is at perfect liberty to recognise any member in the House when the Speaker chooses. The Speaker has done that. He has recognised the right honourable Prime Minister on a point of order.

💬 Hon Trevor Mallard: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Point of order, the Hon Trevor Mallard. It had better be a different question.

💬 Hon Trevor Mallard: It is a point of order, Mr Speaker.

💬 Hon Gerry Brownlee: No, no. Mr Speaker, you’ve recognised a point of order, you can’t call another one.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The member is quite correct. The member will resume his seat. The right honourable Prime Minister, on a point of order.

Mr Speaker—[Interruption]

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Order! The members will resume their seats, or members will be leaving this House—their choice. I have given a final warning. We will hear the Prime Minister’s point of order. If a member seeks to raise a point of order while the House is hearing the Prime Minister’s point of order—[Interruption] Order! The members will leave the House unless they behave themselves.

💬 Hon Trevor Mallard: Well, I will.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The member is quite at liberty to do so.

💬 Hon David Parker: Point of order.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The member will resume his seat or leave the House.

💬 Hon David Parker: Point of order.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The member will leave the House.

Hon David Parker withdrew from the Chamber.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: The right honourable Prime Minister—

💬 Rt Hon Winston Peters: Point of order.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: That member will also leave—[Interruption] The member will leave the House or he will be named. [Interruption] Order! I have recognised the Prime Minister on a point of order. [Interruption] Order! The member will leave the House.

Rt Hon Winston Peters withdrew from the Chamber.