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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 8 Hansard (9 August) . . Page.. 2721 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Mr Quinlan has denied he used these words. The Hansard, I argue, shows very clearly that he did use the words. Mr Stanhope indicated when he spoke today in the debate on this matter that he had heard some completely different words. Mr Quinlan's version of events, unclear though they might be, was backed up by Mr Stanhope. Mr Stanhope's version has also been repudiated by the transcript and by the Hansard audio recording.

Mr Speaker, I think these are serious matters that deserve to be debated. When a member misleads this place it is usually the practice of the house to proceed to deal with that matter. We have a motion to put before the house to censure Mr Quinlan and Mr Stanhope for their remarks, and I believe it is appropriate for the Assembly to consider that motion.

Mr Speaker, I do not think that such words ought to be allowed to lay on the table. The Assembly will not sit again for almost another two weeks-10 or 12 days from now.

Mr Wood: And legislation is your priority? There is a whole pile of legislation.

Mr Berry: You wouldn't want to talk about jobs.

Mr Wood: And this is your priority? Don't come back in a couple of weeks saying, "We have all this legislation that we have got to do."

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, it may not accord with the priorities of some members to defend the status of women in this place, particularly when those people belong to a party which has no women in this place and for whom the proceedings of this place are one big locker room-type game. Mr Speaker, I do not believe that that is appropriate. These words are a put down-

Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: the minister is arguing this matter. The actual question before the house concerns the suspension of standing orders.

MR SPEAKER: The question before the house is that standing and temporary orders be suspended.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, this is a serious matter and we need to suspend standing orders to allow it to be debated. I have been refused leave by those opposite to move my motion. I believe we ought to suspend standing orders to enable this matter to be brought to the attention of the Assembly.

Motion (by Mr Quinlan ) agreed to:

That the question be now put.

Original question resolved in the affirmative, with the concurrence of an absolute majority.

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