Rulings from the Chair
Unparliamentary language
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (10:10): Before we move on, the Speaker asked me to remind the house that the words ‘lied’ or ‘lying’ in regard to a member are unparliamentary. So just to remind the house, an accusation that a member has lied or is lying is an imputation of improper motive and a contravention of the standing orders. That was Speaker Maddigan. Further to that, I would say a member is in order to say that another member misled the house, but ‘deliberately misled’ the house is an allegation of breach of privilege and therefore can only be dealt with by way of a substantive motion. That was Speaker Delzoppo. I draw the parallel between the two of those in that to imply that a member has lied, in my mind, is to imply that the member knew that what they were saying was misleading the house. Therefore that would be a matter for the Privileges Committee or by way of substantive motion and is not in order or a matter for debate. We move on.