Labor launched an unsuccessful motion of dissent against Speaker Bronwyn Bishop amid debate involving Barnaby Joyce, Gina Rinehart and billions of dollars.
The motion was launched after Ms Bishop interrupted questioning about Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, who was being grilled by his opposition counterpart Joel Fitzgibbon during Question Time on Monday.
Mr Fitzgibbon was questioning Prime Minister Tony Abbott over Mr Joyce’s involvement in the Hancock and Gina Rinehart family trust dispute, asking the following question before being cut off prior to finishing:
'My question is to the Prime Minister and I refer him to Friday's revelation that the minister for agriculture previously sought to influence the conduct of litigation involving his benefactor Gina Rinehart. Has the PM counselled the minister that any personal intervention in similar court cases in the future would be inappropriate-'
Ms Bishop ruled the question out of order, sparking a fiery response from Manager of Opposition Business, Tony Burke.
Mr Burke accused Ms Bishop of ruling a question out of order prior to the question being finished, raising larger questions of impartiality.
“This is a significant issue which we have a right to discuss within the parliament,” he said.
“…The only moment at which you could have said it was out of order would have been if the Member for Hunter had completed at that moment. He was continuing and you knew he was continuing and so you stopped him there.”
Mr Burke said the ruling made “a joke” of parliament.
“That sort of ruling makes a farce of this being Question Time,” he said.
“… It is essential if Question Time is going to remain some sort of question and answer back and forth, that there will be at least questions that are not Dorothy Dixers.”
The motion was criticised by Leader of the House Christopher Pyne, who said Mr Burke delivered a performance "that would make Laurence Olivier blush, it was so over the top".
Mr Fitzgibbon seconded the motion, which failed in a Coalition-dominated lower house.
