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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 9 Hansard (18 November) . . Page.. 2593 ..

Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point - - -

Mr Berry: You have not heard it yet.

MR HUMPHRIES: You will get your chance in a minute, Mr Berry. Sit down.

Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Mr Humphries is not speaking to the substantive matter before the chamber, the suspension of the standing orders to introduce a Bill. He is talking about the withdrawal. There is no motion for the suspension of standing orders in relation to withdrawal. This is about the introduction.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order. I will not allow a debate on abortion, but I accept - - -

Mr Berry: It is a bit hard not to, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Well, I will watch that.

Mr Hargreaves: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek your guidance on this because it seems to me that there is an awful lot of flak flying around here. Would you be kind enough to advise the Assembly of the exact wording of the motion before us, please?

MR SPEAKER: It is that so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Osborne presenting the Health Regulation (Maternal Health Information) Bill 1998. I would remind all members of that.

MR HUMPHRIES: Thank you, Mr Speaker. In bringing forward this Bill today, Mr Osborne is addressing a range of concerns that have been expressed by members in this place. He is addressing - - -

Ms Tucker: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I also would like clarification. What you just read out, as far as I can understand, does not speak at all about withdrawing any Bill. As far as I am concerned, I have not heard that mentioned, so why is that part of this debate?

MR SPEAKER: Thank you. I uphold the point of order.

MR HUMPHRIES: I am not talking about withdrawal. I am talking about the introduction of this new Bill. In introducing this Bill, Mr Osborne is addressing a range of concerns that members have raised in this place, including, particularly, Ms Tucker. Ms Tucker in particular - - -

Ms Tucker: How do we know it is addressing anything? It has not come up. No-one has told me anyone is withdrawing anything.

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