Section 48
Closure of Debate
of State Legislative Assembly Standing Orders
(1)
After a question has been proposed a Member rising in his place may claim to move, “That the question be now put”, and unless it appears to the Speaker or
Chairman that such motion in an abuse of the rules of the Assembly, or an infringement of the rights of the minority, the question, “That the question be now put”, shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate, notwithstanding that the mover has had no opportunity to make his reply.
(2)
When the motion, “That the question be now put”, has been carried, and the question consequent thereon has been decided, any Member may claim that any other question already proposed by the Speaker or Chairman be now put and if the assent of the Speaker or Chairman is given such questions shall be put forthwith and decided without amendment or debate.
(3)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 11 (Presiding in the
Assembly or Committee of the whole Assembly) this Standing Order shall be put in force only when in the Assembly the Speaker, or in the Committee the
Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is in the Chair.
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(4)
A question for the closure of debate shall not be considered to have been decided in the affirmative upon a division notwithstanding that the “Ayes” have it unless it appears by the numbers declared by the Speaker or Chairman that not less than one half of the total number of Members of the Assembly voted in the majority in support of the Motion.
RULES OF ORDER IN THE ASSEMBLY
Chair to be heard in silence