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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3623 ..

Personal explanation

MR HARGREAVES: I ask for leave to make a personal explanation under standing order 46.

Leave granted.

MR HARGREAVES: Earlier on, in some ramblings, Mr Moore said that it was the Labor Party's position that high security prisoners at Belconnen Remand Centre be accommodated-

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order-

MR HARGREAVES: For heaven's sake.

Mr Humphries: It is generally accepted that misrepresentation of a party position is not justification to make an explanation under standing order 46, which allows for explanations of a member's personal position. At no point did Mr Moore allege that Mr Hargreaves had made that particular point.

MR HARGREAVES: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: he did. He actually said, "the Labor Party spokesman said" and, as I am the spokesman, that statement therefore refers to me. This is a personal explanation on that issue.

MR SPEAKER: I will allow the Labor Party spokesman to provide an explanation, but I will check the Hansard, Mr Hargreaves.

MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I am happy about that. In fact, Mr Moore suggested that it was our position, and my position, that the maximum security classification people from Belconnen Remand Centre be accommodated at the Periodic Detention Centre. An examination of the public record and the Hansard of this place will reveal that I made no such suggestion.

In fact, it has been my suggestion that the classifications of those on remand at Belconnen Remand Centre be re-examined, and that those people with minimum security classifications, particularly women, may very well be accommodated at the Periodic Detention Centre.

To respond to the Chief Minister's open-arms gesture, I say that it was suggested that the Labor Party was supporting the transfer of maximum security classification prisoners. We were not suggesting that, and I made it absolutely crystal clear, on the public record and in this place, that maximum security prisoners would remain exactly where they are.

Mr Moore: Could I clarify the understanding of standing order 46, Mr Speaker? The point that I was trying to make in my answer was that all prisoners who are on remand are considered maximum security.

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