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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2612 ..

Mr Humphries: We have had a barrage of interjections on a question asked by the Opposition. It really is too much.

MR SPEAKER: Yes. I have to uphold the point of order. I caution the Opposition that Mr Corbell will not be the only person warned if this type of thing continues. Questions are asked by the Opposition. The least they can do is to listen to the answers.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I think in this particular circumstance it is very interesting, because I have not bagged anybody here, let alone those opposite. What I have said is that I think it is exciting. I think it is a step in the right direction to have heard the Commonwealth come out for the first time - - -

Mr Corbell: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked in my question whether or not the Chief Minister had corrected the Prime Minister's misperceptions about this matter and she has not yet answered that part of the question. I would ask you to direct her to do so.

MR SPEAKER: The Chief Minister is answering the question as she sees fit. There is no point of order.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I do not believe the Commonwealth has any misperceptions at all on this issue. I have tabled the letter that the Prime Minister has sent to Mr Carr. I have made it clear from an ACT perspective that we have been, and will continue to be, an active participant in the project; we have offered, and will continue to offer, a high level of support to the task force. I am very pleased, on the basis of Mr - - -

Mr Corbell: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, we did not ask what the ACT was doing. We asked whether or not the Chief Minister had pointed out to the Prime Minister the mistakes he made last night. Yes or no?

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Mr Humphries: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. These points of order border on being an abuse of standing orders. They amount to Mr Corbell continually restating some point he wants to make about these matters, rather than seeking information. None of the points of order have been relevant to the standing orders, and he should be called into line.

MR SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I made it clear that I do not believe that the Prime Minister has any wrong perceptions on this; but I am sure that, if that is the case, Bob Carr will set the Prime Minister straight. In this house what those opposite are supposed to ask questions on is the ACT's perspective, what the ACT is doing, and what I am doing to make sure that they understand our level of commitment. The fact is that the Prime Minister now has made clear to us that he has an unqualified commitment to the project and also, for the first time, is looking at bringing the timeframe forward.

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