Page 2360 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 June 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
MR STEVENSON: I was not shouting. As I have mentioned before, you have never heard me shout.
MADAM SPEAKER: We will have some order. You may talk about what you want to talk about at the correct point within the Bill. The point at the moment is about designated groups. It does not, as the Chief Minister pointed out to me, talk about affirmative action; nor does it talk about quotas. At the point at which the Bill talks about quotas and affirmative action, you will be permitted to talk about it. I have been asked to rule on a matter of relevance. The Chief Minister has presented a case that you are speaking of matters that are not relevant. I ask you to make your remarks relevant.
MR STEVENSON: Can I present the case against the Chief Minister?
MADAM SPEAKER: No; you may continue as I have asked you to continue.
Mr Moore: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: Mr Stevenson is talking to a series of four amendments. His amendment No. 5 refers to page 22, line 10, subclause (a), which talks about appropriate action being taken to eliminate discrimination against women and persons in designated groups. Clearly, that is affirmative action. I think Mr Stevenson is totally within his rights to talk about affirmative action. We are not talking about just his first amendment we are talking about the four amendments together. Perhaps the Chief Minister had not realised that that is what we are doing.
MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Moore. You may proceed, Mr Stevenson, as you please.
MR STEVENSON: Perhaps I could have clarification. Proceed with what, Madam Speaker?
MADAM SPEAKER: I have accepted Mr Moore's explanation. Please continue.
MR STEVENSON: You did not say that. You just said, "Thank you, Mr Moore".
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, would you like me not to let you continue? Please just continue.
MR STEVENSON: Madam Speaker, I must have the right within this Assembly to make logical points, whether you happen to agree with them or not. You did not say that you accepted Mr Moore's point. You simply said, "Thank you". How am I supposed to know what that means, for heaven's sake? Could you rule on that, please?
MADAM SPEAKER: I think you understood exactly what was meant.
MR STEVENSON: I did not understand, which is why I questioned it.
MADAM SPEAKER: Then I will call somebody else. I do not need you to shout at me. We will have a further speaker - - -
MR STEVENSON: What do I need to do to get through?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .