Page 3173 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 September 1993
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Mr Moore: Trevor Kaine set that precedent.
MR HUMPHRIES: With great respect, I disagree. We will debate that when we come to consider the motion when it is put before the Assembly. The point, Madam Speaker, is this: We cannot say to people, "You have a freedom to exercise that power", and then create constraints other than the ones which are suggested here to be imposed on people's minds when they do, in fact, exercise that power.
If members are censured for any exercise of this power, particularly where it touches on things like cronyism on the part of governments, on inappropriate appointments, or on providing jobs for the boys, then, naturally, there will be ramifications, and those ramifications will be that members find it difficult to exercise that freedom of speech which is referred to in subparagraph 1(a) of this motion. My party will continue to draw attention to cronyism on the part of this Labor Government. It will continue to draw attention to jobs for the boys issues - - -
Mr Berry: Will you continue to tell lies? Will your party continue to tell lies?
Mrs Carnell: Can you tell us where we told a lie? Tell us.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I would ask - - -
Mr Kaine: Will you stop beating your wife?
Mr De Domenico: Madam Speaker, I take a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: That is a generality; it was not a specific accusation against a member. I will not uphold that point of order.
Mrs Carnell: So it is all right if we say that the Labor Party tells lies.
MADAM SPEAKER: We have been through this before. The Leader of the Opposition raises an objection. That is out of order. We have been through this process before. If it is a direct imputation against a member, then it is out of order, according to the standing order. Generalised - - -
Mr Kaine: It is no different from the Government telling lies all the time, so what is the difference?
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! This is a parliament. Generalised accusations are in order. Specific imputations against a member are not. Would you continue, Mr Humphries.
Mr Kaine: When is the Government going to stop telling lies?
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I would like to raise a further point of order. I heard Mr Kaine interject, obviously directing it at me, "Will you stop beating your wife?", or words to that effect, or, "Will you continue to beat your wife?". That makes light of domestic violence, and I ask that you order that he withdraw it.
Mr Kaine: It was a general question, just like yours.
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