Page 2686 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 1991
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Mr Connolly: Mr Speaker, I take a point of order. Is he going to withdraw the imputation of criminality, or is it open slather in this place to accuse members of criminal behaviour? If you want to so rule, and they are the rules of the game; fine.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for your observation, Mr Connolly. I am not legally trained. I will take that matter on notice because I do not believe, on the opinion that was presented by the previous Attorney-General, that there is a case to answer.
Mr Connolly: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. He said that an action of the executive government, of Ministers, should be investigated by the Federal Police. He is saying that the Executive Government has indulged in criminal behaviour. If you are prepared to establish ground rules that a member of this place can accuse other members of criminal behaviour and that can be reported in the Hansard and on the front page of the Canberra Times, then you, Mr Speaker, are setting a standard for this Assembly that is lower than that which applies in any place in Australia. If you want to rule that way, you can rule that way. The allegation that members of the Executive Government have indulged in criminal behaviour that warrants investigation by the police should be withdrawn. I think all right-thinking members of this Assembly would agree with me, and you should, because you have been in government in the past.
MR SPEAKER: I will take advice on that, Mr Connolly.
Mr Collaery: I may be able to assist you, Mr Speaker. Perhaps if I could rejoin to Mr Connolly's remarks just for a moment to assist your consideration outside the chamber. Firstly, Mr Speaker, there has been no imputation made. A body has to investigate it and I named two possible bodies. I prefer the Auditor-General. Secondly, Mr Speaker, Mr Connolly has referred to allegations of criminal conduct. This is histrionic. No-one has made that allegation. The Australian Federal Police investigate dog bites, for instance. Certainly, this is somewhere in that realm. We have a government which has been leading its members on the leash somewhere to vote in this chamber.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for your observation, Mr Collaery.
Mr Berry: I seek leave to make a short statement.
MR SPEAKER: I would like to address the point of order, first, if you would not mind, Mr Berry. Mr Collaery, having considered the way that the imputation has been received by Mr Connolly and others, I would ask whether you would withdraw the statement implying that the Federal Police would be looking at activities that have been interpreted as criminal. I am not a lawyer, I must admit, and I take advice from both of you.
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