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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (25 October) . . Page.. 2022 ..

Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, before question time is over I wish to take a point of order under standing order 57. Two or three questions back Ms McRae directed a question to a Minister in which she clearly imputed improper motives to that Minister and to another member of this Assembly. Standing order 55 makes that a matter which is considered highly disorderly. Standing orders 56 and 57 prescribe action that must flow when somebody is considered to be highly disorderly. Mr Speaker, will you take that matter up and take appropriate action against the member who made those improper imputations and was therefore highly disorderly?

MR SPEAKER: I shall take the matter up, Mr Kaine, under standing order 57.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I would argue that you should not take this matter up. That is an outrageous position.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Berry!

Mr Berry: Am I permitted to argue in relation to the point of order, sir?

MR SPEAKER: What I have said is that I shall take it up under standing order 57, which states:

When the attention of the Speaker is drawn to words used the Speaker shall determine whether or not they are offensive or disorderly.

That is what Mr Kaine is asking me to do. I cannot do that until I see Hansard.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, may I ask that before you make a determination in relation to this you hear my argument?

MR SPEAKER: Proceed.

Mr Berry: Thank you, sir. The question went like this: "Minister, you may be aware that, in a recent hearing of a public service disciplinary committee, the committee found that the evidence of Mr Hird could not be relied upon". That is public information, Mr Speaker. You would accept that, Mr Hird, would you not?

Mr Hird: No.

Mr Berry: Mind you, if I were you I would have burnt all copies of the Canberra Times, too.

MR SPEAKER: I do not know where you are going on this, Mr Berry.

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