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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (23 November) . . Page.. 2359 ..

Members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Anybody would think this was a performance of Cats. I appreciate that most members would be incapable of addressing this Assembly if they did not move their arms around.

Mr Connolly: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is not the gesture; it is the cattiness. He made that point again, and to female members of parliament this sort of behaviour by the boys opposite is quite demeaning. I would hope even Mrs Carnell would accept that. We really have to take objection to it. When I last raised this point you said you would remind all members if they sank to that level again. Here we have Mr Humphries again thinking it is quite amusing.

MR SPEAKER: I thought he was demonstrating something, to be perfectly honest, Mr Connolly, but I am sure Mr Humphries will - - -

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, on the point of order, I assure members opposite that it is perfectly possible for male members of the Opposition to be catty as well about things of this kind. It so happens on this occasion it is a female member who is being catty. I do not withdraw the word "catty", because that describes very well what it is - a low, mean question that demeans this place. Clearly, Mr Speaker, Ms McRae is having a go, as usual, at Mrs Carnell. She has no intention of finding out what is in the best interests of the disabled in this town. She has no interest in finding out what the state of play of the Sale of Goods Act or the Trade Practices Act is. Her sole intention is to try one last, desperate time to embarrass Mrs Carnell, and I think, Mr Speaker, she deserves to be condemned for being catty, for that reason.

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question that was put to Mr Humphries was whether he would investigate it. Yes or no will do.

MR HUMPHRIES: I heard it. To be frank, Mr Speaker, in the context of that petty way in which the Labor Party is putting it, the answer is no.

MRS CARNELL: May I make a personal explanation? I will give an absolute undertaking that if faulty equipment was sold by my pharmacy we will either replace it or, alternatively, give a refund.

Mr Kaine: May I take a point of order, Mr Speaker? Would you please devise a method of incorporating in the Hansard in future an indication of the body language of every member of the Assembly?

MR SPEAKER: I will take that on notice, Mr Kaine. It will take some time to consider.

Mrs Carnell: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.

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