Page 4926 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 11 December 1990
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But I want to make this very clear. I want to make this point: I had left this chamber to go to an appointment at Gorman House. I had not left this chamber as a rat, as was suggested, and I wished to have that corrected. I honour Mrs Grassby for having withdrawn that remark. I think I overreacted to her remark. I think she probably did, as usual, mean it in a somewhat comic sense and I am sorry that I did not take it that way. I regret the times when my behaviour is not perfect, and that is so in many walks of life.
Ms Follett: There are a couple of issues that I would like to clear up, especially for the benefit of members who were not here, or those who do not remember what happened during that last sitting of the Assembly. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Dr Kinloch behaved in a violent and threatening manner. He rampaged up this floor of this Assembly. He shook his fist and he shouted at me, at Mrs Grassby and at you, Mr Speaker. There is no doubt about that. It was grossly disorderly behaviour.
Where I do take issue with what Dr Kinloch has subsequently said is that he is, in some way, making a personal apology. This is not a personal matter. It is a matter of the control of this Assembly and it is a matter of the appropriate standards of behaviour in this Assembly.
Mr Jensen: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: A point of order is not acceptable at this time, Mr Jensen.
Mr Jensen: Mr Speaker, I do not believe that Ms Follett sought leave to make a statement.
MR SPEAKER: She has raised a point of order.
Mr Jensen: I did not hear her raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. She just rose.
MR SPEAKER: You are quite correct. I assumed that it was a point of order. Thank you, Mr Jensen.
Ms Follett: I am speaking to the point of order, Mr Speaker. Dr Kinloch has offered an apology to Mrs Grassby. Mrs Grassby may or may not accept that. Dr Kinloch has offered an apology to the Quakers and they may or may not accept that. But there is absolutely no point in his offering an apology to this house. The issue here is control and the standards within this house and whether or not we make use of the standing orders that are available to this house.
Had Dr Kinloch offered an apology to me, I would not have accepted it because I do not believe that it is the appropriate means to redress his behaviour. Mr Berry has raised the appropriate means. It is the means that has been used in half a dozen very much less serious cases by
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