Page 5731 - Week 17 - Thursday, 5 December 1991
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MR SPEAKER: Just before you proceed, Mr Moore: I am not sure whom the statements in that letter were referring to, but I remind members that reading from a document that accuses a member of something does not put the blame on anyone other than the member who was reading the document. I will have to review the Hansard, unless you can clarify the issue, Mr Moore.
MR MOORE: I will be happy to clarify it for you, Mr Speaker. The comments were directed by Mr Gold directly at Mr Stevenson. From the evidence that I have read, it appears to be reasonable.
MR SPEAKER: Under the circumstances, it is unparliamentary, and I would ask you to withdraw.
MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I should be delighted to withdraw anything that I have said that is unparliamentary.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Moore. Now proceed.
MR MOORE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The use of the guillotine on the Land (Planning and Environment) Bill this afternoon was entirely inappropriate or, rather, unnecessary - I do not want to reflect on the vote of the house. I believe that the debate continued in exactly the same way as it had previously, apart from the first five or six minutes. The debate would have concluded quite easily on time tonight, as indeed was the case. Mr Speaker, I think it was unnecessary for us to move a declaration of urgency, and entirely inappropriate, considering the amount of preparation and the negotiations that had gone on through the debate.
East Timor : Mr Speaker
MR COLLAERY (6.14): I rise to remind members that on the 7th, Saturday of this week, we commemorate the invasion of East Timor by the Indonesians. There will be a commemorative mass at 9.30 am at St Peter's. I believe that we should, as a community and as constituent politicians, be seen to take a stand on that issue, whatever our stand may be. I believe that those who fundamentally believe that Australians should now be standing up to be counted on the issue should all be commemorating in our own way, if necessary outside the Indonesian Embassy.
Finally, Mr Speaker, may I commend you for the manner in which you have handled the last two arduous weeks, particularly the manner in which you have handled the numerous divisions and skirmishes on the last two big Bills - the human rights legislation and the planning legislation. I commend you, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Collaery.
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