Mr BARRY O'FARRELL: My question is directed to the Premier. Given the Premier's claim that he lobbied only once, two years go, about the introduction of online betting exchanges, just what was it that prompted, or should that be who was it—Graham Richardson or someone else—who prompted, the Premier to pick up the phone after the State election campaign and ring his Minister for Gaming and Racing and tell him to get on with it?

The SPEAKER: Order! Members will remain silent.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: It might come as a surprise to the Leader of the Opposition, but on the formation of a new Cabinet, Premiers have discussions with their Ministers on their portfolios. Shock, horror!

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will cease interjecting.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: I said it might come as a surprise to the Leader of the Opposition because, given the Opposition's pronouncements on a number of policy issues in the past couple of months, it comes as a surprise to the Government that any of them talk to each other. Last week on the matter of Sydney Ferries, three members of the Opposition—the member for Willoughby, the member for Wakehurst and the Leader of the Opposition—each said something different about ferries.

Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: My point of order is Standing Order 129. It is a fair bet that the Premier wants to avoid this question, but can we have an answer?

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: It is a fair bet that the Leader of the Opposition has spoilt everyone's fun today.

The SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: No, that is not a fair bet, that is a dead certainty. The nation stops for the Melbourne Cup, but not the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr George Souris: He spoilt your fun by asking that question.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: Listen, Light Fingers and Red Handed, be quiet!

Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: My point of order is Standing Order 129. Mr Speaker, will you confirm that the Premier sanctioned the sitting days that included the day for the running of the Melbourne Cup?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: There was a proposition that question time would not be on at this time, and he said "No." What a spoilsport he is.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will return to the leave of the question.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The rejection by the Leader of the Opposition to that proposal was a subzero performance. As I indicated last week, and as the Minister has indicated, it might come as a surprise to the Leader of the Opposition that—

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: My point of order is under Standing Order 129. The question was very specific about the relationship between the Government and Betfair. If the Premier wants to go on about what happens on Melbourne Cup day or whatever, that is fine; that is part of question time. But I ask you to bring him back to the leave of the question

The SPEAKER: Order! I ask the Premier to return to the leave of the question.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: I was trying to, but members opposite keep interrupting me, that is all. Windbag. He tries so hard in his job that we might call him What a Nuisance.

The SPEAKER: Will someone give me the names of some horses, so I know what is going on?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: I am out of horse names. As the Minister indicated—

Mr Brad Hazzard: Point of order: Regarding horses, once in a Purple Moon the Premier is on the Railings, because he is not Efficient.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a horse named Windbag. I ask the member for Wakehurst to resume his seat.

Mr Brad Hazzard: It is not running today, Mr Speaker. Is it out of your personal stable?

The SPEAKER: It is on the list.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: As I indicated last week, and as the Minister has indicated, the discussion about a new Minister taking on a portfolio is about portfolio issues—

Mr Barry O'Farrell: What did his predecessor say?

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: The Leader of the Opposition probably sat on that side of the House, probably at 11 o'clock, when he voted for the previous Minister's legislation on race fields, which provides—

Mr Barry O'Farrell: Read the estimates hearings transcripts.

The SPEAKER: Order! Debate will be conducted through the Chair.

Mr MORRIS IEMMA: Or did that pass at midnight, and he was asleep and did not know what he was voting for, again, and has done since? The previous Minister legislated for race fields and a new Minister has come into the portfolio, as happened with the Minister for Local Government, as happened with the Minister for Health and as happened with the Minister for Water Utilities. As new Ministers take over portfolios, we discuss issues in their portfolios. The Minister for Gaming and Racing has been examining the proposal for wagering since that time.

That is entirely consistent with what I said last week that wagering would be considered on its merits. To repeat what I said earlier, which is also the view of the Minister, if it does not stack up we will not proceed with it. The Leader of the Opposition is assuming that the Government has made a decision: it has not. The process that has been going on since then has been that the Minister and his department have been considering a proposal, and that is it.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Upper Hunter will resume his seat.

[Interruption]

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Upper Hunter to order.