Page 555 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 1993

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The Assembly voted -

AYES, 10  NOES, 6 

Mr Berry Mrs Carnell
Mr Connolly Mr Cornwell
Ms Ellis Mr De Domenico
Ms Follett Mr Humphries
Mrs Grassby Mr Kaine
Mr Lamont Mr Westende
Ms McRae
Mr Moore
Ms Szuty
Mr Wood

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

MADAM SPEAKER: I direct Mr Humphries to withdraw.

Mr Humphries accordingly withdrew from the chamber.

Mr Cornwell: Will you take my point of order now, Madam Speaker?

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Cornwell, I will take your point of order.

Mr Cornwell: Madam Speaker, during the ringing of the bells I distinctly heard Mr Moore refer to Mr Humphries as a slimeball. This may be acceptable in the Federal Parliament, particularly from the Prime Minister, who uses the expression, but I do not believe that we should tolerate this sort of thing in this chamber. I would ask Mr Moore to withdraw it, please.

Mr Lamont: What was the word?

Mr Cornwell: Slimeball.

Mr Lamont: And he was referring to?

Mr Cornwell: Mr Humphries.

MADAM SPEAKER: It does lead to an interesting question of what is and what is not acceptable in a parliament. I will offer you the opportunity to withdraw, Mr Moore.

Mr Moore: Madam Speaker, to avoid any difficulty, although I thought I was being complimentary to Mr Humphries, I will withdraw.

Mr Kaine: Madam Speaker, it is in no way a withdrawal to suggest that Mr Humphries is in fact worse than a slimeball and that withdrawing it makes him look even better than before. That is unacceptable.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Kaine. I will seek clarification. Did you withdraw the comment or not, Mr Moore?

Mr Moore: I finished my sentence, Madam Speaker, by saying that I would follow your direction and withdraw.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you.

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