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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 8 Hansard (26 August) . . Page.. 2504 ..

MR BERRY: What reference do you want me to withdraw, for heaven's sake?

MR SPEAKER: You began your question with certain inferences.

Mr Humphries: Mr Berry is playing dumb. He does that very well. The fact is that there is an inference in that question. It is a very serious one and it should not be on the record.

MR BERRY: Okay, I will start again.

MR SPEAKER: I suggest that you withdraw the imputation that you began your question with.

MR BERRY: Imputation about what? I am a little unclear whom I impugned.

MR SPEAKER: About a trailer.

Ms Carnell: You implied that there was something inappropriate.

MR BERRY: It is a bit hard when it was inappropriate. I refer to the Canberra Times article of 18 June this year headed "Carnell denies intervention 'for friend' ". Is that okay? That was over the impounding of an unregistered trailer and government funded return of trailer. Is that okay so far? The Canberra Times report said that Totalcare charged Urban Services $300 to pick up the trailer. What was the full cost of this service to Mr Murphy? Has the Government sent Mr Murphy a bill? If not, why not? Has Mr Murphy offered to pay the full cost of the Government's generosity to him?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, again we see people not in this place being impugned here. Regardless of what those opposite might think, Mr Murphy has contributed a huge amount to the city at all sorts of levels.

Mr Corbell: Huge amount to your re-election funds as well. He is the main fundraiser for the Liberal Party.

MR SPEAKER: Order! You have asked your question.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, again Mr Corbell is breaching standing orders, obviously very flagrantly, and again he has made inferences which I think he should withdraw.

Mr Kaine: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Perhaps we need a ruling here. I am not clear on how it is that a member quoting from a newspaper can be said to be impugning somebody's integrity. That is what happened, as I heard it. I think we need a ruling on whether we are permitted or not permitted to quote headlines from newspapers without being accused of impugning somebody's integrity.

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