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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 9 Hansard (1 September) . . Page.. 2710 ..

Mr Moore: In this case, Mr Speaker, there was an imputation and a reflection on a vote of the Assembly. The imputation is that the Chief Minister broke the law. That has never been the case. Mr Stanhope not only reflects on a vote of the Assembly, but he also misleads the Assembly with that statement and he ought to withdraw it. It carries an imputation.

MR SPEAKER: Do you wish a withdrawal, Chief Minister?

Mr Moore: You said she broke the law, but she didn't.

Mr Stanhope: No, I didn't. The Chief Minister referred to a slur campaign of the last three months. I am just a bit bemused and confused as to exactly what this slur campaign was. I assume the Chief Minister was referring to the fact that as a result of her Government breaking the law consistently, its breaches of the Financial Management Act which led to the expenditure of $20m of taxpayers' money without parliamentary - - -

MR SPEAKER: That requires a withdrawal.

Mr Moore: That is a reflection on a vote of the Assembly. It is entirely inappropriate. He needs to withdraw, or boot him.

Mr Stanhope: It is not a reflection on the vote. The Chief Minister was censured. What's the reflection? She was censured.

Mr Humphries: Not for breaking the law.

Mr Stanhope: She was censured as a result of a breach of the Financial Management Act. That is a breach of the law.

Mr Moore: She did not break the law.

Mr Stanhope: I meant no imputation, nor did I impute. I am simply trying to clarify what it was the Chief Minister was referring to - the fact that the Government broke the law?

MR SPEAKER: Can we all get back to question time, please.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, did Mr Stanhope withdraw?

MR SPEAKER: He withdrew any imputation.

Mr Stanhope: I did. Quite clearly.

MR SPEAKER: He did.

MS CARNELL: Fair enough.

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