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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 277 ..

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, that is outrageous. The Government is accused of threatening - - -

Mr Humphries: No; a Minister is accused.

MR SPEAKER: A member, Mr Berry.

Mr Berry: Which one was accused?

Mr Humphries: A Minister.

Mr Berry: Which one?

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, to answer Mr Berry's question, you have ruled in the past, as has Ms McRae as Speaker, that a collective attack on a small number of people can count as an individual attack on those members.

MR SPEAKER: That is correct. I have to uphold that point. The fact is that, if you make an allegation of that nature, without naming the Minister, you damn all Ministers.

Mr Berry: Fair enough.

Mr Humphries: Then withdraw it or prove it.

Mr Berry: No, she does not have to prove it.

MR SPEAKER: Under those circumstances, that is grossly unfair to at least three other Ministers.

Mr Berry: Get up and deny it in the debate.

Mr Humphries: No; that is not the way it works.

Mr Berry: It is not a personal reflection.

Mr Humphries: You have to withdraw it.

MS REILLY: Mr Speaker, could you explain what your decision was?

MR SPEAKER: The fact is that you have made an allegation about a Minister, unnamed, having threatened a community organisation. Standing order 55 states:

All imputations of improper motives and all personal reflections on Members shall be considered highly disorderly.

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