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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3224 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

Something was said in question time today that is wrong. Indeed, it was corrected by the member during his speech, when he said at first there was no policy, then he outlined the policy, which is a clear contradiction. They cannot both be right.

I think it is very important that the integrity of this place is maintained by ensuring that the facts that are put in front of us are recorded accurately. It is important that, where these statements of fact are found to be contradictory or inaccurate, the opportunity is presented to members to correct the record. That is what I seek to do.

I wish to put some facts before the Assembly, so that the member who made a mistake-I assume it was an honest mistake-will have the opportunity to correct that mistake.

MR CORBELL (Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, Minister for Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations) (3.27): Mr Speaker, the standing orders explicitly allow for all the circumstances where a member may want to clarify or correct the record.

Standing order 46 deals with personal explanations, 47 deals with specific words, and the other opportunity is the adjournment debate. However, if the opposition stands up in this place and consistently seeks to make its political points after question time, it is not an appropriate use of the Assembly. There are other opportunities.

If they have explanations of a personal nature, standing order 46 permits that to occur. If it is in relation to the use of particular words, standing order 47 permits that to occur. The other opportunity is during the adjournment debate. The motion should not be supported.

MS TUCKER (3.28): I might need clarification. I did understand that standing order 47 would have allowed someone who felt they had been misrepresented to speak. If Mr Smyth had the responsibility at the time, he could have clarified-

MR SPEAKER: Ms Tucker, there was no question before the chair.

MS TUCKER: Okay. On the question of suspension of standing orders, I think I would support it as long as it does not go on for too long. If we are going to keep stopping the debate all the time and going on like this, it starts to get ridiculous.

Question put:

That Mr Smyth's motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted-

Ayes, 8 Noes, 8

Mr Cornwell Mr Smyth Mr Berry Mr Quinlan

Ms Dundas Mr Stefaniak Mr Corbell Mr Stanhope

Mrs Dunne Ms Tucker Ms Gallagher Mr Wood

Mr Humphries Mr Hargreaves

Mr Pratt Ms MacDonald

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