Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill

Speaking to that point of order, if I have from the Clerk the correct transcript of the words that you spoke when you sought leave for that appointment, it was for the appointment of temporary Assistant Speakers. It may be that the word “temporary” was a slip or it just, perhaps, was descriptive rather than talking about “temporary” in terms of Standing Order 137, but it’s unfortunate that the appointment was made of temporary Assistant Speakers rather than just Assistant Speakers. It may be a lesson for us, but it does appear that the appointment was explicitly—and I’m sure the Clerk can provide you with the leave that was put, that wording. The words of Standing Order 137(4) are very clear: that a person in a temporary position can’t accept a closure motion.

Obviously, your ruling’s absolute, but I just think we need to get clear as to whether when you said you sought leave for the members to be appointed as temporary Assistant Speakers, whether that is what you intended or not. If you did intend them to be temporary Speakers, it seems that we’re in a position where they can’t accept closure motions in this debate.

💬 SPEAKER: No, “temporary” is a word. In the context that you’re talking of it, it would be if someone who’s in the Chair and for some reason needs to leave the Chair quickly—as has happened many times in the time I’ve been here—then someone is put into the Chair on a temporary basis. They’ve never been approved by the House; they’ve just been requested by whoever was in the Chair to occupy that Chair on a very temporary basis. “Temporary” in the context of the motion that the House dealt with today quite clearly meant that they would be acting as Assistant Speakers until 11.59 on this coming Saturday, so my previous ruling stands. Thank you.

Committee of the whole House

Debate resumed.

Clause 2 Commencement (continued)

CHAIRPERSON (Tom Rutherford): Members, when we were interrupted, we were on clause 2, which is the commencement.