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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 7 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 2134 ..

Mr Humphries: Yes. If the member has taken offence I withdraw. This happens all the time.

MR STANHOPE: Not to this side of the house. What Mr Smyth has done is say, "Well, I do not think I misled, but if anybody thinks I did then I withdraw". But the point is that I take on board what Ms Tucker has just said. I understand the debate.

There is just one other thing that I will say. In the heat of these things I do regret that tempers do get frayed and we lose sight of what we are debating. I think we are debating a very serious issue here about the need for absolute integrity in our answers. I sought to do that. In the context of that I did respond to Mr Moore in a way that I would not normally do and which, in retrospect, I regret. I regret losing my temper. I regret that it took some focus off the motion which we were discussing, which was the integrity that we expect and the standards we expect in this place. I think this is a serious motion. It was not moved frivolously or lightly. I believe there was a direct mislead. I believe that. I believe absolutely that there was a clear and direct mislead. I believe it absolutely.

Mr Humphries: Then read Hansard tomorrow and see if you still think so.

MR STANHOPE: He gave a qualified retraction. The qualified retraction does not save the reputation of the TWU or Mr Santi. I have noticed the willingness of the Government to jump up and defend Mr Thurston, and I am prepared to defend Mr Thurston. I think Mr Thurston is an honourable man, but so is Mr Santi. Mr Santi, too, is an honourable man. To the extent that Mr Thurston has been attacked, Mr Santi has been attacked by the Government. Mr Smyth has attacked and impugned Mr Santi's integrity to the extent that anybody else has posed some questions over Mr Thurston's part in this.

I conclude, Mr Speaker, by saying that I acknowledge what Mr Humphries said in particular about what is being imputed to Mr Smyth. Yes, Mr Smyth has acknowledged that he did make inaccurate statements. Mr Smyth has acknowledged that Mr Santi and the TWU did indeed negotiate with the Government. I understand this to be what you are saying. I understand that you are all acknowledging - Mr Humphries said it quite baldly - that Mr Smyth has apologised. You think he has apologised completely. I have questions about that, but I accept what you are saying - that Mr Smyth has apologised. On the basis of that I am quite happy. I seek leave, Mr Speaker, to withdraw the censure motion.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Berry: And Smyth still has not risen to his feet. He has not even defended himself.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I think Mr Berry has just compounded the problem by suggesting that Mr Smyth has still told lies in this place.

Mr Berry: No, I did not say that. Do not put words into my mouth.

MR SPEAKER: I did not hear that but he is out of his seat anyway.

Mr Humphries: Mr Berry just made remarks to that effect.

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