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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 11 Hansard (10 December) . . Page.. 3504 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

and he has been remarkably successful. I can tell you, because I have great respect for him, that he wants a peaceful life, especially today, since he has gone to hospital for an operation on his foot, and I wish him a peaceful night. I have no confidence in Mr Humphries' assurances. Most members of this Assembly know that Mr Munday has been pursuing a case with the Government about claims that were made - - -

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise to take a point of order.

MR WOOD: I expected that you would.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I think what Mr Wood is doing is grossly improper. This Bill is not about Mr Munday. It is not intended to be about Mr Munday. He is not mentioned in the Bill. There is no intention on the part of the Government to use this Bill against Mr Munday. It is completely immaterial. Mr Wood is quite improper, to be quite frank, to be raising a particular individual's name in the context of particular legislation.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, one can use examples to justify one's case in any debate, and I cannot see why it would be ruled out in this place. If it were ruled that you cannot use examples which might arise from certain legislation, then there would be poor-quality debate in this case. I am sure that Mr Wood would not mention Mr Munday unless he had Mr Munday's agreement. So I do not think - - -

MR WOOD: Absolutely. Not only do I have Mr Munday's agreement, I - - -

MR SPEAKER: Order! I accept the point made by Mr Berry. However, it is one thing to mention an example. It is quite another to give a history of somebody who is not mentioned in this Bill.

MR WOOD: It is the case that Mr Munday is not mentioned in the Bill. There is no question about that. But I wait to be told that that is not what this Bill is about.

Mr Humphries: It is not.

MR WOOD: It is not?

Mr Humphries: It is not.

MR WOOD: We will wait and see, Mr Humphries. I did not hear from you, in your brief introductory speech, what this Bill is about other than vexatious litigants.

Mr Humphries: That is what it is about.

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