Thursday, 11 September 2025

Thursday 11 September 2025

The SPEAKER (Maree Edwards) took the chair at 9:32 am, read the prayer and made an acknowledgement of country.

James Newbury: On a point of order, may I take you to Tuesday’s debate, around 2:30 or 3 o’clock, in which I raised a point of order and, Speaker, you responded in relation to the parliamentary system when I raised a point of order about a number of items:

They are on the website and will be answered by the end of today.

That was two days ago, and I raise that particular point of order because, Speaker, when you provided advice to the house that those matters ‘will be answered by the end of today’, I said, ‘Well, they’re not answered until they’re actually answered publicly.’ If they are somehow in some system, that does not mean they are publicly responded to, and therefore they are not answered. A commitment was given to this house that they ‘will be answered by the end of today’. That was on Tuesday. None of those items have been answered two days after the fact.

The SPEAKER: We will have the matter looked into for you, member for Brighton.

Jess Wilson: On a point of order, Speaker, last night during debate it has come to my attention that the member for Werribee, who was out of his seat at the time, was interjecting. I note yesterday you spoke about the importance of respect while members are on their feet. I ask you to review the footage because the member for Werribee called me a piece of trash. I would ask him to withdraw.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Kew. I will review the footage.

Matt Fregon: On the point of order, Speaker – and I appreciate the commentary of the member for Kew – I was in the chair at the time, and I counselled members to be respectful. I note I also counselled the member for Werribee to acknowledge the Chair as he passed the mace, as is appropriate, which he did not do. I feel that it was dealt with at the time, but obviously I bow to your wisdom in treating it differently.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Ashwood. I will review the footage.

James Newbury: On the point of order, Speaker, and I note the Deputy Speaker’s contribution to this issue, considering the egregious nature of the allegation, it does I think need to be dealt with separately and considered separately.

The SPEAKER: I said I would review the footage. Can I just say that this week has been one of the most disappointing weeks in this Parliament that I have ever experienced in my 15 years. I have not seen such disrespect in the chamber at this level, and I think it is incumbent on all members to take a long, hard look at how they behave in this chamber. This chamber does not operate unless members follow the standing orders, respect the Chair and respect each other.