Page 4672 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 27 November 1990
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MR HUMPHRIES: I intend to show that it is not proof, Mr Moore, and I seek leave to make a statement.
Leave not granted.
Motion (by Mr Kaine) agreed to:
That so much of standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Humphries (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) from making a personal explanation.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, if I might refresh the house's memory, there was an assertion by Mr Connolly in the course of his remarks in the debate just finished - - -
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: standing orders were suspended to allow Mr Humphries to make a personal explanation.
MR HUMPHRIES: I am doing it.
Mr Berry: It is not a personal matter.
MR HUMPHRIES: I said "a statement", not "a personal explanation".
Mr Berry: The motion says "a personal explanation".
MR SPEAKER: He asked for leave to make a statement, Mr Berry.
Mr Berry: No, the motion moved by the Chief Minister was that so much of standing orders be suspended to - - -
Mr Kaine: I will rectify the matter, Mr Speaker.
Mr Berry: You cannot. It is too late.
Motion (by Mr Kaine) agreed to:
That so much of standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Humphries (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) from making a statement.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, the assertion made by Mr Connolly in the course of the debate - I paraphrase it because I have not the exact words in front of me - was that either the Government in general or the bureaucracy in particular or I in particular was prepared to use, or had on occasions in the past used, threats of defamation as a device to silence public servants from going on radio or elsewhere to make criticisms. With respect, Mr Speaker, that is a quite unfounded suggestion, it is quite false and it should be withdrawn by Mr Connolly as it is an aspersion on my handling of my department. I would ask that he withdraw the statement.
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