Dr EMERSON (2:39 PM) —My question is to the Treasurer, and it follows on from his answer to the previous question. Does the Treasurer recall responding to this question, about a current account deficit of $2 billion, from a journalist: `Will you concede, though, it is an improvement on the previous figure?' The Treasurer said, `Look, if you forecast a disaster, there are no congratulations for reaching it. If the government knew that it was going to run a $26 billion deficit over the year, what it should have been doing is making sure that it improved the situation rather than sitting back with this smug and complacent attitude, saying, “What jolly good fellows we are!”

The SPEAKER —The member for Rankin will come to his question.

Dr EMERSON —“We forecast a disaster, and we have made it.”' Treasurer, now that you have recorded a record current account deficit of almost $33 billion, $7 billion more than the deficit you described as a disaster—

The SPEAKER —The member for Rankin has had his opportunity to come to his question. He will come to it immediately or resume his seat.

Dr EMERSON —Why do you sit back with your smug and complacent attitude, saying, `What jolly good fellows we are! We forecast a disaster, and we have made it'?

Mr Ross Cameron —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In defiance of your ruling, the member has now made his speech and I would ask you to move to the next question.

Mr Swan —Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order in response to that point of order. Mr Speaker, when the Treasurer was answering the previous question he was given much latitude by you. He ranged far and wide, and we ought to have the same latitude with our questions.

The SPEAKER —I remind the member for Lilley of the standing orders. Standing order 144 obliges that `questions cannot be debated', `should not contain ... statements of facts or names of persons ... arguments; inferences; imputations; epithets; ironical expressions; or hypothetical matter'. Questions `should not ask ... for an expression of opinion' or refer to `debates in the current session'. There is one standing order for answers, and that is that the `answer shall be relevant to the question'. I listen closely to the answer and I always write down the questions to ensure that there is relevance. There is a separation between questions and answers. The member for Rankin chose, in spite of my constant intervention, to continue in the same vein of questioning, and for that reason I am ruling the question out of order.

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —The member for Lingiari is warned. The member for Brisbane is warned.

Dr Emerson —Mr Speaker, I seek to rephrase the last part of the question.

The SPEAKER —I will not accede to the request. I had already indicated to the member for Rankin what I expected of him when he was at the dispatch box.