Question Time: Opposition MPs warned on interjections day after Lachlan Hunter booted out of State Parliament

MPs were repeatedly reprimanded for interjecting again during Question Time, a day after Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter was booted out of State Parliament. He returned on Wednesday, as Speaker Stephen Price called Opposition MPs to order five times within 10 minutes. There were constant interjections, during debate over tobacco laws. “Sales are up, Premier . . . vaping’s up, smoking’s up,” Opposition leader Basil Zempilas said. During a Government question on housing, Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer was told off for interrupting before Roger Cook had even started to respond. Mr Hunter was one of the MPs called to order, again, as Water Minister Don Punch complained “I can’t hear myself” and asked the Speaker to intervene. “Members of the Opposition, let the Minister respond,” Speaker Stephen Price said. Earlier, Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia insisted he wasn’t troubled by the theatrics. “I don’t pay that much attention to (Mr Hunter),” he said. “You’ve got to comply with the standing orders, that’s a pretty basic requirement. I think the Speaker’s afforded people a lot of latitude.” Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti denied provoking the Opposition benches and urged new MPs to toe the line. “Honestly, somehow his poor performance, you want to excuse it. I mean, why would you want to excuse someone that is yelling constantly,” she said. “I love the debate of Parliament, and I’ve been involved in it for 16 years, but never have I seen someone who believes they’ve got the right to yell constantly. “We love a good interjection, we love banter, but to do it constantly, that is the issue.”