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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1857 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: When did you dictate who on this side of the house can move motions?

Mr Whitecross: She made the allegation.

MR HUMPHRIES: We all made the allegation. I have made it; Mr De Domenico has made it; Mrs Carnell has made it; we have all made it. It is my entitlement to move the motion, and I intend to move it. I seek leave to move that motion.

Leave not granted.

Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Mrs Carnell has clearly indicated that she is not going to rise and move her censure motion. I suggest to you that we go to the first item of business on the notice paper, which is private members business.

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, as much as this is totally stupid - and I think that moving a censure motion when the members opposite and those on the crossbenches have not been briefed on an issue is certainly something that we would not do in the future - if the Assembly as a whole is keen to debate this issue now, it should be debated. I understand that the bottom line is that people want to debate it now. Whether or not those opposite seriously want to be totally childish is not the issue. I am very happy to move the motion of censure.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (10.56): Wait a minute. Mr Speaker, I move once again:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Humphries from moving a motion of censure against Mr Berry.

MR BERRY (10.57): This is the most farcical situation that I have seen develop in this place in the many years that I have been here. Mrs Carnell has been wildly threatening to censure a member of this Assembly. It has been widely reported in the media. She was given the opportunity this morning to move a motion and refused. Let the record show that. The crossbench members ought not be convinced by the spin of the Liberals on this issue that it ought to be left to Mr Humphries because Mrs Carnell did not want to do it. Mrs Carnell is the one who made the allegations in question time yesterday. Mrs Carnell is the one who issued a press release in relation to the matter. Mrs Carnell is the one who has been reported each hour in the media this morning in relation to the matter. Her officials were on the radio in relation to the matter, and it is very clearly the responsibility of Mrs Carnell either to put up or to just sit there quietly and say nothing. The crossbenchers ought to pay due regard to that.

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