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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1598 ..

PRIVILEGE-SPEAKER'S STATEMENT

Statement by Member

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make some comments in relation to the statement you have just made.

Leave granted.

MR CORBELL: I thank members. Mr Speaker, thank you for your ruling on this matter. I must say that I am somewhat disappointed, with all the greatest possible respect to you as Speaker, that you have chosen not to give this matter precedence. Nor, Mr Speaker, have you chosen to give reasons for your decision, and that is most disappointing.

I understand, Mr Speaker, that you are not required to give reasons, but House of Representatives Practice does refer to the fact that the Speaker may give reasons as to why a prima facie case for an investigation into a breach of privilege does not exist. You have not done so, Mr Speaker, and that raises some questions in my mind that I believe need to be pursued further.

The comments and the ruling you have made today only highlight the importance of addressing this matter, and I give notice to other members now, if members are not already aware, that I intend to move a motion this Thursday, in Assembly business, to establish a select committee of privileges to investigate this alleged breach of privilege. The reason for that is that what we have seen occur before the Planning and Urban Services Committee of this Assembly is, I believe, one of the most serious underminings of the effectiveness of our committee system. We have-

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

MR CORBELL: There is no point of order, Gary.

Mr Humphries: You have not heard what my point of order is yet.

MR CORBELL: I have leave.

MR SPEAKER: Just a moment I will handle this.

Mr Humphries: That is fine. I am rising on a point or order, if you don't mind. Mr Corbell is making some allegations in respect of-

MR CORBELL: I have made no allegations.

Mr Wood: Which standing order?

MR CORBELL: Under which standing order?

Mr Moore: Imputations.

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