[Business resumed.]

Ms LYLEA McMAHON (Shellharbour—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.16 p.m.]: The member for Manly referred to nursery rhymes and talked about the experiences of Old Mother Hubbard. Another fairy tale that is completely relevant is Chicken Little.

Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order—

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! I foresee that the member for Wakehurst will refer to the speaking time of the member for Shellharbour as currently shown on the clock.

Mr Brad Hazzard: That is exactly what I was going to point out. The Clerk is being good in encouraging more speech, but we do not want that. We would rather it be brought back to the bare minimum.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! The Leader of the House moved a suspension motion to restore the full speaking time of the member for Shellharbour. She had four minutes remaining when the quorum was called.

Ms LYLEA McMAHON: Members of the Opposition do not want to hear the story of Chicken Little because it is a bit too close to the truth, is it not? Charging out of the Chamber, got to get away from—

Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: The member is behaving like a chook without a head. I refer to Standing Order 76, relevance. If the member wishes to continue to have the benefit of the motion moved by the Leader of the House, which the Opposition has allowed her to do, she should be brought back to the subject of the motion.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! I remind the member for Wakehurst that the member for Shellharbour is speaking in reply. Fairy tales were mentioned during the debate. However, I am sure the member will move on to more substantial matters.

Mr Brad Hazzard: We have reached the stage where this State is governed by fairy tales? Fair enough!

Ms LYLEA McMAHON: Yes. It does not matter which way it is spun, the facts are the facts: the New South Wales economy is powering along. The beacon of hope that the Treasurer came into this place and spoke about less than 12 months ago is shining over the economy of New South Wales. The Opposition cannot hear it and charge out the Chamber, "The King, the King, the sky is falling in!" New South Wales not only has a triple-A credit rating in a global financial crisis but it has also overseen the first of the State's economic recovery and delivered—

Mr Jonathan O'Dea: Point of order: I issue a red card.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! The Chair takes a dim view of the prop used by the member for Davidson. He has already been advised not to use props in the Chamber. I warn the member against using props in the future.

Ms LYLEA McMAHON: We have reduced payroll tax, benefiting all businesses across the State. We are providing upskilling opportunities for the workers of this State.

Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order—

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! I hope the member for Wakehurst rises on a legitimate point of order.

Mr Brad Hazzard: Madam Assistant-Speaker, I understand your cynicism, but I hope you listen to my point of order. The member for Shellharbour is speaking in reply to the debate. She has just introduced new material: payroll tax. At no point did she or any other member refer to payroll tax.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! Payroll tax was mentioned during the debate. The member for Wakehurst may not have been present in the Chamber when payroll tax was mentioned, but I certainly heard reference to it. There is no point of order.

Ms LYLEA McMAHON: We have declining unemployment, strong growth in the retail sector and business investment has grown by 11 per cent in the first half of the financial year. New South Wales leads the State in construction. What we see is the green shoots of recovery growing and flourishing, and what we see in those opposite is a group of people who want to mow them down.

[Interruption]

Did the member for Coffs Harbour find the drinks trolley?

Mr Andrew Fraser: I did. Thank you for bringing it around.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): Order! The member for Coffs Harbour will not walk into the Chamber and hold court. He will sit down.

Ms LYLEA McMAHON: The significant contribution of the member for Davidson was to say that he had been hit over the head with a brick. All I can say is: Well, that is clearly apparent! [Time expired.]

Question—That the words stand—put.

The House divided.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment negatived.

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

Division called for and Standing Order 185 applied.

The House divided.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.

ASSISTANT-SPEAKER (Ms Alison Megarrity): It being just after 4.30 p.m., the House will now proceed to General Business Orders of the Day (for Bills).