Speaker Tony Smith lashes both sides in Question Time, throws out 11 members

Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith came down hard on both sides of the House during Question Time, taking aim at the prime minister and treasurer, and throwing out 11 MPs. A raucous Question Time saw the speaker of the House rein in members from both sides including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg who he said “scripted” his answers beforehand. “If he (Mr Frydenberg) wants to give a general character assessment of those opposite, he’ll need to find another time to do it throughout the parliamentary day, no matter how much he’s scripted it beforehand,” Mr Smith said. The speaker held no pleasantries for the government and the prime minister when trying to steer Mr Morrison to answer a question put to him by Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. When Mr Morrison said he was “happy to do that” after Mr Smith told him to stay on topic, the speaker lashed him saying “I don’t care if you’re happy or not, you need to return to the question”. The fiery Question Time also saw the removal of 11 MPs from both parties including Liberal MP Tim Wilson and Shadow Energy Minister Chris Bowen.