Ruling on the Point of Order by the Hon. Semi Koroilavesau

Honourable Members I will now address the House on the Point of Order raised yesterday under Standing Order 60 by the Hon. Semi Koroilavesau. I remind Honourable Members that whilst the Hansard report has not been circulated, I have obtained the relevant excerpts.  

Hon. Koroilavesau stated –  

“It has been the protocol in Parliament and has become a tradition that when a Member presents his maiden speech or makes a contribution to the Budget, normally there is no Point of Order when the Member is on the floor. This allows the fluency and for the Member to stay within the timeframe of 20 minutes.  Normally if there are any questions, it is directed towards the mover of the motion who will answer all their queries and in this case, the honourable Minister for Finance.  I just wanted a clarification from you, Sir, if this has moved away from the normal protocol and tradition of Parliament.”   

Honourable Members, Standing Order 60 which is on “Speech must be relevant” provides guidance to Members when speaking during a debate or in cases where amendment motions are moved. 

The point of order raised by the Hon. Koroilavesau can be construed to be on the issue of interjections, heckling and banging of the table by other Members whilst a Member is on the floor delivering his or her speech as opposed to the normal protocol and tradition of Parliament, accorded when a Member is delivering his or her maiden speech.  

At the juncture, I wish to reiterate some of the accepted protocols and traditions accorded in the House –  

1. During the Opening of Parliament, when His Excellency addresses the Parliament, Members are expected to maintain courtesy and decorum and not interrupt; 

1. During the delivery of the National Budget Address, Members are expected to maintain courtesy and decorum and not interrupt nor interject the Minister for Finance. The same is also upheld for when the Shadow Minister for Finance delivers his or her response; 

1. During the delivery of Maiden Speeches, Members are expected to maintain courtesy and decorum and not interrupt or interject; and 

1. During the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill as well as all other debates, Members are not precluded from engaging in free flow of Parliamentary banter with the exception of completing drowning out the Member who is on the floor. 

In that respect, having reviewed Standing Order 60 and the relevant excerpts of the Hansard report for yesterday’s sitting, I hereby rule that the point of order raised by the Hon. Koroilavesau is out of order.