Mr BURKE (Watson) (15:15): I have a question to the Speaker. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: If members could cease interjecting, I'm trying to give the Manager of Opposition Business the call. Mr BURKE: Thanks, Mr Speaker. Thank you for making that statement to the House. I respect the procedure that you said you would follow in terms of who you would consult. The advice you just referred to from the Australian Electoral Commission creates a situation where government policy can hold up whether or not a seat is filled. When the member for Bennelong resigned, a by-election was called two days later. For the seat of New England, it was called on the same day that the High Court handed down its decision. For Batman, it was six days after. Indeed, if a general election is called, once that is agreed with the Governor-General, everything can happen within 33 days, and it happens immediately. That being the case, and respecting the independence of your role as Speaker— Mr Pyne interjecting— The SPEAKER: The Leader of the House will cease interjecting. Mr BURKE: I do have to raise the issue that it is now taking longer to fill five seats than it would take to fill 150, and we are currently in a situation where the government could delay a regulation for as long as they wanted, and that would determine when a by-election was held.