Mr SNOWDON (3:21 PM) —Mr Speaker, further to the issues raised by my colleague the member for Hunter, I have actually moved in this chamber an amendment to Senate amendments, and to do that I had to seek detailed advice from the clerks. I am wondering whether you can inform us as to whether or not advice was sought from the clerks about the appropriateness or otherwise of the amendments that were moved.

The SPEAKER —I make the point to the honourable member for Lingiari that the House has made a decision on this. I believe that if the member wishes to pursue the matter with the clerks he will, but the chair reminds the member that the House has made a decision and it will move on.

Mr SNOWDON —With great respect, I understand that we have made a decision, but I would have thought a normal process would have been that the government lodged the proposed amendments with the Clerk to establish whether or not they were in line with standing orders. Did they or did they not?

The SPEAKER —I thank the member for Lingiari, and I understand his point, but I do not think this is a matter for the chair to pursue; it is a matter that he may wish to pursue through other channels.