Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —Mr Acting Speaker, I ask a supplementary question to the Acting Prime Minister.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —I will—

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —You will hear the supplementary.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —No. I will not. A referral to another minister, as I ruled yesterday, is not an answer.

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —So, as I understand the basis for your previous rulings, you have indicated that you would like to hear the supplementary question and then rule on it.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —But you said you wanted to ask a supplementary question of the Acting Prime Minister.

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —My question in the initial stage was directed to the Acting Prime Minister.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —Just a second. Let's be very clear. Supplementary questions must relate and only relate to a matter contained in the answer that is given. Now the Acting Prime Minister has flicked the pass to the other minister. Right?

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —That is right.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —There is nothing wrong with that.

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —Mr Acting Speaker, I want the Acting Prime Minister to pick up the ball and run with it.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —I am sorry. You are out of order.

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —I press my right to ask a supplementary question to the Acting Prime Minister. If he desires to handpass it again, then so be it.

Government members interjecting—

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —Order! Those on my right! I will repeat what I have already said in case I am not being quite clear. The rules regarding supplementary questions are that they must arise from matter contained in the answer by the minister answering the question. If you wish to ask a supplementary question of the Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training who answered the question and it is a supplementary question relating to his answer, I will hear the question and then I will rule on it.

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —In light of the fact that the Acting Prime Minister has flicked the ball, I would like to ask a supplementary question of the Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —No, this is preamble. I have already ruled the Leader of the Opposition out of order because of preamble. Do you have a supplementary question for the minister?

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —Yes, I have a supplementary question.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —Let me hear the question.

Mr Reith —Mr Acting Speaker, I raise a point of order. I invite you to proceed on the basis that you yourself nominated, and that is that the member sought the call for a supplementary question to the Acting Prime Minister. You ruled it out of order. On that basis, he should be required to sit down. This is simply wasting question time, which is clearly their intent.

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —This is the member for Batman's last chance. Do you have, without preamble, a specific question for the minister?

Mr MARTIN FERGUSON —My question is directed to the Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training. Will the minister now set a Christmas target for the long-term unemployed?

Mr ACTING SPEAKER —No, I will not allow that.