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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 3 Hansard (8 March) . . Page.. 868 ..

Mr Corbell: No, you are suggesting that it is a political campaign, rather than the fact that she is representing her members.

MR MOORE: Are you suggesting that it has not been a political campaign, Mr Corbell?

Mr Corbell: You are suggesting that she has personal motives.

MR MOORE: The Nursing Federation has said very clearly that it is going to run candidates at this election. Of course there is a political motivation. They are the ones that are saying they have a political motivation.

Mr Corbell: You are suggesting that she has personal motives.

MR SPEAKER: May I interpose between the two people having an argument across the chamber. I would ask Mr Moore to be careful, although he has not reflected or been critical. He has simply stated what I trust, and it is entirely up to Mr Moore, is a fact.

Ms Tucker: I would like to speak to the point of order. I am interested in Mr Humphries' point of order. I do not understand your response to that. If Mr Humphries is right and standing order 117 does not apply to an answer to a question, we do not have an issue for debate; but standing order 117 (b) refers to questions not containing statements of fact or names of persons unless they are strictly necessary to render the questions intelligible.

Mr Humphries: In questions.

Ms Tucker: I know that that was your point of order, but we are also having a debate about whether it is critical and you have not ruled on that, Mr Speaker. I am interested to know that. It does not seem to me that the name needed to be mentioned for him to say what he sees as a problem with the organisation of which this person is a member.

MR SPEAKER: I cannot uphold the point of order because standing order 117 (b) (i) refers to questions and, as I recall, the question did not make reference to the woman's position anywhere else. The matter refers to standing order 117 (d) and I have not yet heard Mr Moore make a critical attack or a reflection upon the person for being a member of some organisation.

Mr Quinlan: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: to state or imply that a person is prolonging an industrial debate that involves a number of people-not the person concerned-and to state that this person is hijacking that industrial debate for her own political purposes is, I believe, a slur on her character and a criticism and should be ruled out of order, otherwise Mr Moore would not be doing it in the first place.

MR SPEAKER: Just a moment: I think that is a slur on the minister.

Mr Quinlan: As a man of honour, I withdraw it.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you. Sit down.

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