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CHRIS BISHOP : Mr Speaker. I don't want to delay the House, but I do want to ask you, sir, if you were intending to make a statement to Parliament about reports in the media that you have apologised to someone for comments made by you as Speaker last year.
SPEAKER: The answer to that is no, and the second part of the answer is that part of the agreement is that I make no further comment.
David Seymour: Speaking to the point of order........
David Seymour: Speaking to the point of order........
SPEAKER: .. it's getting to the point with a number of members where they raise spurious points of order on matters which are not matters of my responsibility as the Speaker, as opposed to the chair of the PS Commission. They are quite different roles, and the member knows that
DS:Well, I can assure you that this is in relation to your responsibility. I think the House would like an explanation, and I urge you to reconsider, because there are a range of matters that people would like to understand. You hold yourself out as a Speaker who campaigns ...
Against bullying and harassment. There are serious concerns raised in the media. I think you owe it to the House—regardless of any private agreement you may have in any capacity—to give an explanation of why you chose to release this information while the country was embroiled
and digesting the royal commission of inquiry of whether—
SPEAKER: No, no. The member will resume his seat—the member will resume his seat. There was a matter which reached finalisation. On the first sitting day, which was yesterday, I released the statement as agreed.
SPEAKER: No, no. The member will resume his seat—the member will resume his seat. There was a matter which reached finalisation. On the first sitting day, which was yesterday, I released the statement as agreed.
I will take no further discussion. The matter was agreed on Thursday or Friday last week, and I released it as soon as was practicable. There will be—
Hon SIMON BRIDGES Point of order, Mr Speaker. I had understood that the code of conduct all members of Parliament signed ...
Hon SIMON BRIDGES Point of order, Mr Speaker. I had understood that the code of conduct all members of Parliament signed ...
included provision that we were no longer to do non-disclosure clauses—is that not the case?
SPEAKER: No.
Hon GB Point of order, Mr Speaker. Regardless of what you might want to say, there is a question as to what did "no" mean? Did it mean:....
SPEAKER: No.
Hon GB Point of order, Mr Speaker. Regardless of what you might want to say, there is a question as to what did "no" mean? Did it mean:....
No, it's no longer in the code of conduct." or "No, I'm not obliging the code of conduct."?
SPEAKER: Yes, well, what "no" means goes right to the core of this matter, as the member is aware. I don't know if he's playing with words. I want to make absolutely clear......
SPEAKER: Yes, well, what "no" means goes right to the core of this matter, as the member is aware. I don't know if he's playing with words. I want to make absolutely clear......
that the detail, as outlined by Mr Bridges, is not in the code of conduct.