Page 1195 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 March 1991
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MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mrs Grassby, you have made the point. Allow the Minister to continue.
Mrs Grassby: Just as long as you got the point.
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: I got the point.
MR COLLAERY: As Attorney-General and a Minister and member of this Assembly, I believe that you all know that I am quite prepared to accept the rough and tumble of political life, and I have usually been reluctant to run to the law seeking private legal remedies. Members are also aware of the views I hold about our outdated defamation laws. I find the prospect of issuing writs and matters of that kind personally abhorrent. In my view, the situation has to be very compelling for that to come about.
As individual members, when we have grievances I believe that we should be robust and content to air them in this Assembly unless exceptional circumstances arise. However, with regard to two programs on the WIN news of the 19th and the 20th, I believe that enough is enough. On two occasions my integrity has been grossly attacked. On the first occasion I was stunned. On the second occasion I was convinced that there was a premeditation in the process launched upon by reporter Patrick McLoughlin.
Despite the facts of the matter before the Assembly - accurately reported, I might add, by all other sections of the electronic media and the print media that I saw - Channel 9, WIN news, and its reporter Patrick McLoughlin saw fit to run a sensational news item on 19 March that commenced with this introduction:
Grave allegations concerning Alliance Government ministerial behaviour have been referred to the National Crime Authority.
Mr Berry: That is true.
MR COLLAERY: Could members hear me out. Journalistic ethics would normally require - and I suggest that members make those inquiries of journalists - that it be acknowledged that the first suggestion of a reference to the NCA was indeed made by me. Secondly, the program went on to make a number of other allegations which sensationalised matters about which Mr Moore had, some hours previously, made an apparent apology and withdrawal - which were not referred to in that broadcast program. A program went to air which I believe, for many in this Assembly, has lowered the esteem in which that reporter may have been held. I believe that that reporter owes me an apology and some explanation for his conduct on 19 March.
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