Page 2933 - Week 13 - Thursday, 23 November 1989
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MR SPEAKER: That is a qualified withdrawal, Deputy Chief Minister. Please withdraw the original statement.
MR WHALAN: I withdraw the reference to Mr Collaery's defamatory tendencies. Mr Speaker, the interjection - -
MR SPEAKER: I would still request that you remove the original words as spoken, Deputy Chief Minister.
MR WHALAN: I withdraw the words "famous defamer".
MR SPEAKER: That is close. Thank you, Deputy Chief Minister.
MR WHALAN: Mr Speaker, what we have here is an interjection from Mr Collaery which is relevant to the motion that we have before us now for the adjournment and gagging of the business of the Assembly. He interjected and said, "The first thing that you thought about was the casino". It was as though there is something dirty about the casino; as though there is something illegal about the casino; as though there is something fundamentally wrong about the casino, Mr Speaker. This person has chosen to raise this matter in this way, and it is just so typical of his style.
Let me place on record, Mr Speaker, that the next item of business which is up for consideration today is the Civic Square project, order of the day No. 3. It was not only up for consideration today, based on this order, but it was also on the agenda by agreement with Mr Collaery. Mr Collaery agreed with this order of the business. So for him to raise this issue in this way is absolutely scandalous. To reflect upon the Government in this way is absolutely scandalous.
So what we are faced with then, Mr Speaker, is a situation in which, in an effort to gag the debate of this Assembly, we find Mr Collaery's gag motion denying us the opportunity to debate the Schools Authority (Amendment) Bill. Mr Collaery is laughing at the fact that we are being denied the opportunity to debate education. It is so typical of the man's total and absolute disregard for the children of the ACT. The man is laughing and gloating at the fact that, if his resolution is carried, we will be denied the opportunity, Mr Speaker, to debate this question of the Schools Authority and education in the ACT. It is so typical of this man. This is typical of his total and absolute disregard for the children of the ACT. This is the sort of person who was on radio this morning and defamed members of this Assembly in this particular way.
Mr Stevenson: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; the Deputy Chief Minister is persisting in making remarks that are not becoming of this Assembly.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for your observation, Mr Stevenson.
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