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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 933 ..

MR SPEAKER: Clerk, could I have a look at the question, please? I would like to see the question. The second part of the question, "Are you aware of any elements in the Electoral Act that work against women candidates," is perfectly legitimate. I am still not convinced, Chief Minister, that the phrase "the effect that the Hare-Clark electoral system is not fair to women" necessarily involves the Labor Party per se. Mr Kerrisk and Mr Berry have certainly made recent comments about it, but I am not sure that that necessarily involves all of the ALP.

MR HUMPHRIES: May I address you on that subject, Mr Speaker? I am not asking for any special privilege in this place. I am asking for the same rules which have been applied in this place for 12 years to be applied here. Members have never been restricted to strict repetition of the names of people who have been quoted in a question. There is no rule that says you cannot mention other people and other related issues.

MR SPEAKER: Other people by name.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I could produce Hansards this thick with questions of the same kind which have been asked without problem in previous question times in this place. Members opposite have answered questions in that way as well when they were in the ministry. The point of order is a absurdity. If it was applied it would make it impossible to run a question time in a constructive way, not just here but anywhere in the country.

MR SPEAKER: Very well, but be careful.

Mr Stanhope: Mr Speaker, there are a couple of points that I wish to make. In the first instance, Michael Kerrisk has never suggested that the electoral system is unfair to women. He has not suggested that. He said it is going to be difficult.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, what has this to do with it? You are debating the issue.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Just a moment. You are now debating the issue. We are not discussing this. You were taking a point of order on a comment made by the Chief Minister.

Mr Stanhope: I will. I am referring to the basis of the question. Mr Kerrisk actually has not criticised Hare-Clark in the context of the difficulty that confronts women.

MR SPEAKER: Order! I am sorry. I will not allow it. Resume your seat. Look, the situation is that we are discussing whether or not certain people made certain comments relating to whether the Hare-Clark system was fair or not to women.

Mr Stanhope: The question was wrong.

MR SPEAKER: Whether it was wrong or not is not for me to decide. It is a question that has been asked and the Chief Minister is answering it. I will allow the Chief Minister to continue to answer it, but I would remind him that we are not discussing the ALP as a political party. I uphold your point that other members may be mentioned, Chief Minister.

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