Wednesday, 3 June 2026

 Paul HAMER (Box Hill – Minister for Local Government, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Corrections) (10:14): May was Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month, and I want to take a moment to talk about these debilitating conditions that many people may never have heard of. The Ehlers–Danlos syndromes are a group of genetic conditions affecting the body’s connective tissues. Symptoms vary but can often include hypermobility across multiple systems, chronic pain and significant fatigue, amongst others. Unfortunately the lack of understanding of their impacts, their perception as only rare diseases and insufficient education being included in healthcare professional training have contributed to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of affected individuals. As a result for many disease management is rarely optimised and opportunities for early intervention are not realised. This means that many sufferers lose decades of their lives trying to get diagnosed.

Nicole Werner: On a point of order, Deputy Speaker, I am just seeking your clarity around a ruling during my genuinely bipartisan statement about FightMND and raising funds. The Speaker had me remove my beanie, when yesterday during the condolence motion every Labor MP had either a beanie or a hat on in support of FightMND, as I was seeking to do myself in my member’s statement – including the Speaker herself. So I would like to seek guidance on the ruling and about the rules for thee but not for me and genuinely what was a bipartisan moment that has sadly been politicised. I would like to seek clarity on that, especially where it appears to be rules for thee but not for me.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order. I would encourage you to speak to the Speaker in her office. More than that, that is not a point of order.

James Newbury: On a further point of order, Deputy Speaker, the member, I heard, was seeking your clarity, and if you are saying that you will refer it to the Speaker, of course you are welcome to do that, but this house is a place where members can stand up and seek clarity and raise points of order. It is not, respectfully, a place where we can get told to go and have a cup of tea with someone else. The member, as I heard it, was seeking clarity. It was a fair –

Members interjecting.

James Newbury: It is fair and reasonable that as the member is seeking clarity that matter is referred to the Speaker, because the Speaker herself was wearing the item yesterday, and the question ‍–

Members interjecting.

James Newbury: I presume you do not just support it on one day for the picture.

Members interjecting.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I am on my feet. Members will be removed from the chamber. As I have ruled – please sit down, member for Warrandyte – and my understanding is the Speaker made a ruling, it is not a point of order to necessarily question the ruling of the Speaker. However, the Speaker would be more than happy, I am sure, to discuss the matter with you in her office.

Cindy McLeish: On a further point of order, Deputy Speaker, it has been mentioned during this discussion that has been had just now that yesterday leave was sought, and we would like to have that clarified, because we did not hear leave being sought or know about leave being sought.

Belinda Wilson interjected.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Narre Warren North can leave the chamber half an hour.

Member for Narre Warren North withdrew from chamber.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: ‘Leave was sought’ – I am not sure of the leave that you are talking about.

A member interjected.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please do not reflect on the Chair. I encourage you to speak to the Speaker about the issue, and further than that, we will continue on committee reports.

Gary Maas interjected.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Narre Warren South, I am over the interjections.

Kathleen Matthews-Ward interjected.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Broadmeadows can leave for half an hour too. Anyone else?

Members for Narre Warren South and Broadmeadows withdrew from chamber.