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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (28 October) . . Page.. 2368 ..

Mr Stanhope: No, there is not.

MR HUMPHRIES: I am glad Mr Stanhope interjected to say that. I agree; there should not be a different test. If something is censurable in the mouth of the Minister, it should also be censurable in the mouth of any other member of this place. I certainly argue that when it is grossly selective and intended to produce a particular impression, then that is a case also for censure by this place. Mr Speaker, I ask members to treat this seriously and to censure Mr Corbell if he does not withdraw and apologise.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Humphries, would you mind tabling a copy of this document, please?

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, Mr Speaker. I table the document I have just referred to.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you. Members, my previous advice about the Hansard being available at 1.30 pm was not correct. I have now been advised that, whilst they were available at 1.30, they were not distributed until about 2.40 pm. I apologise for misleading the house.

MR CORBELL (3.50): No, we will not be censuring you, Mr Speaker. The debate today in many ways is a very silly one. I want to start off by focusing on some comments that Mr Humphries made earlier today in a media statement which he released. Interestingly, the media statement he released this morning did not focus on any of the arguments that he has put to the Assembly this afternoon. He said this morning that I have quoted figures based on misinformation and mistakes, and that even when I quote them selectively I have got them wrong. He goes on to say that I should not have quoted the figure of 207 minutes in 1995 because he believed it was 203 minutes. He, himself - - -

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise to take a point of order. I have made it clear that I have accepted Mr Corbell's figures and I have not repeated the assertions.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, there is no point of order. Mr Humphries is debating the issue.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Just a moment. I want to hear Mr Humphries, please.

MR CORBELL: He is debating the issue. He gets a right of reply.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I am raising a matter of relevance. Mr Corbell is choosing to debate the press release I put out this morning, not the comments I have made in the Assembly this afternoon.

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker, if I may. Mr Corbell is entitled to use whatever defence he wishes to a serious censure motion which has been put by the Minister. The Minister should be man enough to cop it. At the end of the day he will have a chance to respond, as is his entitlement. These cheap points of order are a misuse of the standing orders.

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