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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 4741 ..

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I seek your leave to make a statement under standing order 46.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, leave is granted.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I understand that Mr Berry told members of the media last week that one of the reasons why he was ejected from this chamber was that we did not want him debating the issue of gambling, and today that it was because we did not want him to be able to debate the issue of the board of inquiry report. My comment, Mr Speaker, is about the board of inquiry report. When Mr Berry was ejected from this chamber, and my vote was part of his removal, it had nothing to do with the report of the inquiry.

Indeed, I feel very relaxed about telling members of this chamber, and anybody else, that I did not know that the report of the board of inquiry was due to come down this week. I suppose, in hindsight, I should have thought it must come down some time before the end of the sitting. It had not even entered my mind at the time that Mr Berry was ejected. I object to Mr Berry putting that kind of imputation on me. I think it is appalling for him to reflect on the Assembly in that way.

Mr Corbell: Is this a personal explanation? He is debating the issue.

MR MOORE: My decision was made purely on the grounds - - -

MR SPEAKER: Enough. The explanation has been provided, Mr Moore.

MR MOORE: My decision was made purely on the ground that he had been named - - -

Mr Corbell: Sit him down, Mr Speaker.

Mr Whitecross: Are you going to warn him, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Moore, the explanation has been provided.

MR MOORE: I just need to complete my explanation, Mr Speaker.

Mr Corbell: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. You have instructed Mr Moore to sit down. If a member of the Opposition was doing this you would be getting extremely short-tempered with us and warning us. You have failed to do so with Mr Moore. I would ask you to do so or at least maintain some semblance of equality in the chamber.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Moore has given his explanation.

MR MOORE: On the point of order - - -

MR SPEAKER: Come on, now! Everybody, wake up to yourselves.

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