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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 4823 ..

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, commentary on the nature of the question has never been out of order in this place, and it never will be, I suspect.

MR SPEAKER: No, indeed. I think it was relating to the ACT Emergency Services, Mr Humphries.

MR HUMPHRIES: That is right, Mr Speaker. Mr Whitecross's question is contemptible in its nature, and for that reason I do not propose to answer it.

MR WHITECROSS: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: I am trying to work out how you can ask a supplementary question if the question has not been answered.

MR WHITECROSS: I can assure you that I can.

MR SPEAKER: You can try.

MR WHITECROSS: I will not use words like "cover-up", even though they spring readily to mind. Minister, has an investigation - - -

Mr Humphries: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. You ruled on the term "cover-up" this morning, I believe, and I would ask that the same ruling be made now about the use of that term.

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, I said I would not use the word "cover-up" and I have not. Why would I use the word "cover-up" because the Minister refused to answer the question? Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question, though.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, may I press my point of order? You very clearly ruled this morning that that term was unparliamentary.

MR SPEAKER: I did.

Mr Humphries: The fact that it has been thrown around in this way does not detract from its - - -

MR SPEAKER: Objection has been taken. Please withdraw.

MR WHITECROSS: If Mr Humphries thinks that I was implying that he was covering up, I withdraw the imputation. Minister, can you answer this question? Has an investigation been conducted to ascertain whether the guidelines relating to the conduct of Emergency Services personnel at motor vehicle accidents were followed by the ambulance officers who attended the accident involving the Chief Minister on the Federal Highway on Sunday?

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