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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3530 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Mrs Cross said the last government knew about respecting the crossbench, but that is not true. It is often about numbers-

Mrs Cross: I did not say respect; I said they knew they needed you.

MS TUCKER: Okay. I won't go into that, but I would like to say that I have not felt the level of concern before that I am starting to feel in this place about a lack of response to a majority motion of the Assembly.

MR CORBELL (Minister for Health and Minister for Planning): I seek leave to speak again.

Leave granted.

MR CORBELL: This has been an interesting debate. It seems that, at least from the opposition side of the world, it is more about my character than about steps I took on this particular motion. This is not a debate about my character. Mrs Dunne may not like me, but that does not mean she can censure me. Yet some of the suggestions that have come from the other side of the house would suggest that, because they do not like me-

Opposition members interjecting-

MR SPEAKER: Order, members!

MR CORBELL: they want to censure me. That is a matter of character.

It is not a matter of character; it has nothing to do with my character; it has got nothing to do with my personality. It has got everything to do with whether what I did was the appropriate thing to do as a minister. That is what it is about, and it is wrong of Mrs Dunne to suggest otherwise.

I heard Ms Tucker comment, "We cannot direct the executive."Why am I being censured if you cannot direct the executive?

Mrs Cross: Because of your contempt of this place.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, Mrs Cross has suggested that I am in contempt of this place. That is highly disorderly and you should ask her to withdraw.

Ms Tucker: She said you're in contempt of us.

Mrs Cross: That's right-of the members.

MR CORBELL: That is disorderly, and I ask you to withdraw.

MR SPEAKER: Mrs Cross, you must withdraw that.

Mrs Cross: Can I maintain the sentiment and withdraw the words?

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