I just want to make the observation that Greg Sheridan wrote a magnificent article in The Australian yesterday saying the whole of the world is watching Gaza and it should be debated in this House. But for this group of people to get away with the vilification of the people who were attacked brutally and don’t have the ability to answer it, that is wrong and it should not happen.
Mr KATTER (Kennedy) (11:07): I changed the wording to the issue of the Gaza invasion. Would the suspension of standing orders to debate the issue of the Gaza invasion be acceptable?
The SPEAKER: I am just checking with the Clerk regarding the original motion. Member for Kennedy, if you wish to suspend standing orders you need to explain why, what the reason is to interrupt the House, which is a fairly serious consequence for disrupting the order of the House and the business of the House.
Mr KATTER: I just want to make the observation that Greg Sheridan wrote a magnificent article in The Australian yesterday saying the whole of the world is watching Gaza and it should be debated in this House. But for this group of people to get away with the vilification of the people who were attacked brutally and don’t have the ability to answer it, that is wrong and it should not happen. This parliament should be allowed to speak. There are people of Jewish faith in the ALP who are deeply offended by what took place here. There are people of Jewish faith there that are deeply offended, and every decent Australian is disgusted with the behaviour of the people behind me.
Now, we should be allowed to have our say, and I think that it’s important for our nation to stand proud on this issue. That is why I think it’s imperative that we be allowed to debate this matter.
The SPEAKER: Look, I’m just not going to allow this to continue. The member for Kennedy has had his say now, under indulgence. The House has decided on this issue about whether or not we will debate it, so there’s no point having that argument again because we’ve just dealt with that issue. I would suggest to the member for Kennedy that there are other forms in the House if he wishes to lodge a private member’s motion where this debate could occur, and I’d encourage him to do so.
Mr KATTER: Mr Speaker, I would be your greatest admirer in this place, undoubtedly, but I must dissent from your ruling. I move a motion of dissent from your ruling on this matter, officially and formally.
The SPEAKER: That is the member’s right to do so. I shall need that motion in writing.
Mr KATTER: I do not wish to waste the time of the parliament. I’m discussing it here with the Leader of the Opposition, and they are going to take an initiative which I will, of course, very strongly back. But I think it’s a suspension of democracy if this House is not allowed to debate this matter. To allow this mob to have their say without anyone on the other side being allowed to speak, that’s very undemocratic and I will very strongly back the opposition—not on other things but on this manner.
The SPEAKER: I understand. Are you withdrawing the dissent motion?
Mr KATTER: I withdraw the dissent motion, on the basis that something is coming forward from the opposition and I will back that. Thank you for your indulgence.