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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (7 March) . . Page.. 573 ..

Mr Smyth: He must withdraw, Mr Speaker. No, he must withdraw. You have ruled on this before, Mr Speaker. It is not acceptable to leave that imputation in Hansard and he must withdraw it now.

Mr Corbell: You don't like it that you spent money illegally, do you?

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, can I assist further?

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR BERRY: I withdraw.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you. Thanks, Mr Berry. Let's get on with it.

Mr Moore: Mr Speaker, a further point of order.

MR SPEAKER: It has been withdrawn.

Mr Moore: I actually have a second point of order to go with it. It is also a reflection on a vote of the Assembly, an inappropriate reflection on the vote of the Assembly. Mr Berry knows that.

MR BERRY: About what?

MR SPEAKER: I think we might all settle down. Mr Berry has withdrawn. Continue your remarks, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, let me put it another way. There have been three legal opinions that this was an illegal appropriation. Mr Speaker, if there was a provision in the Financial Management Act that made this a crime and these people had gone to court, they would have been found guilty. There is no - - -

Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: You have just ruled. Mr Berry knows exactly what he has done. As he has done on many occasions, he has disregarded the authority of the chair. That is standing order 202 (e), Mr Speaker. It is a standard approach from Wayne Berry and he ought to be warned.

Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: Quite clearly, Mr Berry is allowed to make whatever rhetorical comments he believes are appropriate in his comments in response to the scrutiny report. There is no imputation, Mr Speaker, and Mr Berry has withdrawn any offence that has been taken.

MR SPEAKER: I am becoming very tired of provocation from both sides of the house. I suggest you debate the issues and keep the personalities out of it.

MR BERRY: Thank you for your protection, Mr Speaker.

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