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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (23 November) . . Page.. 2549 ..

Mr Humphries: What do you think your motion just before was?

Mr Connolly: Just a minute. Labor joined with the Government in passing a motion which, in effect, said that you cannot amend a budget. This motion, and certainly Mr Moore's speech, are an attack on the leader of our party for our party's vote on that motion and surely are out of order.

MR SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. I will listen carefully. Mr Moore, you have heard Mr Connolly.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I heard Mr Connolly and I take the sentiment of what he has raised. Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter. Censure motions are indeed serious matters. Mr Speaker, what we see here is a situation of two-timing and two-facedness, particularly by people like Mr Wood and other members of the Labor Party who have followed Ms Follett in what has been a treacherous move over the last few days on areas where we would have expected them to take appropriate action to project some social justice in this community. Mr Speaker, instead of social justice - - -

Mr Connolly: Mr Speaker, the same point of order arises. The "treacherous move" is the failure to move an amendment, and that is a reflection on the vote of the house. Since we opposed every line of the budget, the "treacherous move" in failing to take action can refer only to the issue of amending the budget, and that is the issue which the house has voted on. Mr Moore had to concede that there was some substance to my earlier point of order. I would ask you to rule again.

MR SPEAKER: I still caution Mr Moore. He is aware of my caution. I do not uphold the point of order, Mr Connolly, at this point. Please be careful, Mr Moore, that you do not reflect on a previous decision of this house.

MR MOORE: Indeed, Mr Speaker. Is that not interesting, Mr Speaker? It is obvious that it is Thanksgiving. We can tell by the number of turkeys in the house. They might actually be bustards, Australian bush turkeys.

This censure motion has an element, particularly for the crossbenches, of putting a plague on both your houses as was the case with Montague and Capulet. That is about the level that you are at. Mr Speaker, I think that what we have seen is absolutely shameful. An opportunity has been wasted - - -

Mr Berry: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Moore is clearly reflecting on a decision of this Assembly. He said that it was shameful that we did not move amendments which would have been contrary to your ruling in relation to amendments which he put.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Moore, you did state "what we have seen". If you are to continue, I will need an explanation from you as to what you are talking about.

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