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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1505 ..

MR SPEAKER: Prior to the luncheon break, I made a ruling against a point of order taken by Mr Berry on a comment from Mr Moore. I wish to advise members, and Mr Berry in particular, that my ruling was incorrect, and I apologise to members and particularly to Mr Berry. On 27 August 1996, we did reverse exactly what I said. Whilst I do not intend to read the entire statement, I think it is important to read what Speaker Snedden stated in 1981, which was the basis for the ruling I made on 27 August 1996. He said:

I think that if an accusation is made against members of the House which, if made against any one of them, would be unparliamentary and offensive, it is in the interests of the comity of this House that it should not be made against all as it could not be made against one. Otherwise, it may become necessary for every member of the group against whom the words are alleged to stand up and personally withdraw himself or herself from the accusation.

I can only repeat what I concluded with in August 1996:

Accordingly, I call upon members to cease using unparliamentary expressions against a group or all members which would be unparliamentary if used against an individual.

I apologise to the house.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present further information in relation to question No. 382 relating to exemptions under the Rates and Land Tax Act 1926.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister): I present, pursuant to sections 31A and 79 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994, copies of contracts made with Verity Bondfield, Richard Clarke, Damien Farrell (termination), and Annabelle Pegrum (short- and long-term contracts).

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