Page 3175 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 September 1993
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MADAM SPEAKER: Would you allow me to rule?
Mr Berry: It is an imputation against individual members who defended that appointment.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Berry, I did allow generalised comments to be made.
Mr Berry: We are talking about the Liberal Party. We all know what they are like. This is about members of this Assembly.
MADAM SPEAKER: Could we have a spot of order? The standing orders are quite clear. They say that members shall not make imputations against individual members of the Assembly. They do not say that we cannot make imputations against the party as a whole. They do say that people will not interrupt; so would you proceed, Mr Humphries?
MR HUMPHRIES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I say, the lies which have flowed from those opposite constitute a serious threat.
Mr Berry: I am one of "those opposite", Madam Speaker, and I am not going to cop this.
MR HUMPHRIES: You just heard a ruling, did you not?
Mr Berry: It is very clearly aimed at this side of the house and me, in particular. It is an imputation against members on this side of the chamber.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Humphries, perhaps you would like to explain that there is no imputation against Mr Berry, in particular?
MR HUMPHRIES: Oh, no, Madam Speaker, no imputation against Mr Berry at all.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you. That is now taken as withdrawn. Continue.
MR HUMPHRIES: I will say that those on that side of the chamber who choose to use lies as a device to make their point denigrate the respect in which this place is held.
Mr Lamont: I rise to take a point of order. If Mr Humphries is not specifically referring to Mr Berry, I presume that it is either me or somebody else on this side. I take issue with the specificity. That argument, the way in which he has couched his terms, is a direct imputation on me. I ask that you seek a withdrawal.
MR HUMPHRIES: On the point of order, Madam Speaker: I think that members opposite are flouting your ruling, your very clear ruling, on this matter, which was that members could make generalised allegations in that respect. I would ask you to - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: I believe that that is right, Mr Humphries. I will not uphold that point of order. Your time has expired.
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