Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1304 ..

Mr De Domenico: You are in a league of your own called the loony Left. That is what Graham Richardson says - "the loony Left".

MR BERRY: There are level-headed people around this place. Mr Speaker, I think that interjections like "loony Left" in this place are unparliamentary. I do not mind my political position being established, but I do not like being referred to as a lunatic. One's mental state is not up for debate.

MR SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico was not referring to an individual. He was referring collectively.

MR BERRY: I ought to expect that from you, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Now, now!

Mr Humphries: I rise on a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Berry knows that he must resume his seat, because he always plays by the rules, remember. If Mr Berry wishes to cast aspersions of that kind on the Speakership, then obviously he erodes the position of leadership which you enjoy in this house. I would ask, therefore, that he withdraw that quite uncalled for and unparliamentary comment.

MR BERRY: I said that I would expect that from the Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Would you withdraw the imputation, Mr Berry?

MR BERRY: If you think there is an imputation, Mr Speaker, I withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

MR BERRY: But I would also say, Mr Speaker, that it was a grossly unfair ruling from you that people in this place should be able to refer to the mental state of one of the other members.

Mr De Domenico: On that point of order, Mr Speaker: I just repeat what I said. I said what ALP Senator Graham Richardson said. For the edification of Mr Berry, I quote what Senator Graham Richardson said. He said, "Castro is still spoken of in heroic terms by people known and feared throughout Australia as the loony Left". They were the words of Senator Graham Richardson.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Berry, Mr De Domenico referred to the loony Left. He did not refer to any individual. Had he done so, that would have been unparliamentary and I would have called upon him to withdraw. We all know that words such as "hypocrites" and all sorts of other terms are thrown across this chamber. If applied to an individual, they must be withdrawn, but not if they are applied collectively.

MR BERRY: We can do without the narrative.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Was that a reflection on me? If that is the case, you will withdraw it immediately.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .