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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1530 ..

MR HARGREAVES (6.01): Mr Speaker, on the question of suspension: Mr Humphries has said that the words can stay on the record for the next 10 days. I might suggest, Mr Speaker, that that is exactly what this minister has done with the whole body of that report, the contents of which no doubt are embarrassing to this minister. He has put it without authorisation. He has adjourned the motion of authorisation so the thing just hangs in the air, so far for some considerable weeks, and now for yet another two, instead of allowing that process to be debated and finalised. If it is good enough for this minister to let a report like that hang in the air, let this hang in the air until we come back.

Mr Humphries: It wasn't my decision, Mr Speaker, that it be left in that position.

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (6.02): Just on that motion: the issue is quite clear, Mr Speaker. You indicated, Mr Speaker, that you did wish to take the matter away, review it and report on it. What my colleagues have said is fair. It was Mr Humphries who adjourned the debate. We could have concluded this yesterday. The Attorney left it hanging by moving adjournment of the debate on Mr Berry's motion. It could have been dealt with. He brought it up in the ashes of the evening, so to speak. You did indicate that you wanted to take the matter away. Mr Humphries continued to press you not to adopt that attitude. We have been discussing this now for half-an-hour. The executive obviously has no other business that it gives any precedence to. We may as well adjourn.

Mr Moore: Have a look at the paper. It is not your prerogative to adjourn.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, under standing order 46, I ask for leave to make a further statement.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, it is customary for standing order 46 matters to be dealt with after the question is put.

Mr Humphries: I ask for leave to make a statement, Mr Speaker, because it touches on the matters that have just been raised.

Mr Moore: Now we will move to suspend standing orders.

MR SPEAKER: Is leave granted?

Mr Wood: Later.

Mr Moore: We will move to suspend standing orders. I move to suspend so much-

MR SPEAKER: We have already got a motion for suspension of standing orders. Just a moment. I want to clarify a point following Mr Stanhope's comments. Yes, that is true; I did wish to take the matter away. Mr Humphries then appealed me. I had not made a decision. I still have not. The question is that standing orders be suspended. That is the matter before the house at the moment.

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