Mr SPEAKER (9:48 AM) —Yesterday the honourable member for Wills asked me whether members raising points of order were required to make any declarations of interest in connection with the subject of their point of order. When the present arrangements for the declaration of members' interests were first introduced by resolution of October 1984, members were required to declare interests orally before they participated in debates or voted, but the requirement was abolished in 1988. This change was made on the recommendation of the Committee of Members' Interests which had expressed doubt that the requirement served any useful purpose in view of the obligation on members to lodge written declarations: House of Representatives Practice, page 161. Any member who wishes to propose a change in the arrangements is of course free to take up the matter with the Committee of Members' Interests or the Standing Committee on Procedure.

Mr SPEAKER —Chief Opposition Whip!