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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 4672 ..

MR STANHOPE: And many of us will think about whether it is an Australian thing to do to drag refugee boats back out to sea and hope that they don't founder and sink when they seek refugee status here.

Mr Smyth: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question was: what will the ACT government be doing to celebrate Australia Day? It didn't ask for the Chief Minister to reflect about the issues of immigration or other issues. It actually asked: what will the ACT government be doing to celebrate Australia Day? If he has got nothing to say because they are doing nothing, then he should just sit down.

MR SPEAKER: I have to say, when I heard the question I thought, "Someone is leading with their chin a bit,"if I could be permitted to comment. Chief Minister, would you please wind up?

MR STANHOPE: I am just winding up. They are the sorts of things that some of us will be doing on Australia Day. We will be thinking about all those things that make Australia a great country. We will be thinking of all those things that make us really proud to be Australians. And some of us will be thinking about some of those things that over the last few years have not made us feel particularly chuffed or proud to be Australian-and they go to the things that you and your party have done. They go to the fact that the Liberal Party is happy to-

Mr Smyth: I rise on a point of order, Mr Speaker. Under standing order 118 (b), he is not allowed to debate the subject. He is compelled to answer the question. The question was not about the Liberal Party. The question was: what will the ACT government be doing to celebrate Australia Day other than the citizenship ceremony? You must ask him to answer the question.

MR SPEAKER: Look, it is not my job to sit here and interpret questions and answers, but if you ask a question that invites an answer about what people will be doing on Australia Day, and the government consists of a number of members, the Chief Minister is entitled to answer on behalf of the government.

Mr Smyth: In that case, Mr Speaker, is the minister announcing a forum to discuss immigration on Australia Day, which would be an announcement of government policy, or is he avoiding the question?

MR SPEAKER: The question was in order, and I think the answer is in order as well.

MR STANHOPE: Those are some of the things that we will reflect on on Australia Day that will not make us so proud, and we will reflect on other people who do it tough, and we will reflect on some of the attitudes of the Liberal Party in relation to them.

Mr Smyth: Again, I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, I have already ruled on that.

Mr Smyth: Under standing order 118 (b), he is not allowed to debate the issue. He is not allowed to comment or reflect upon what the Liberal Party might stand for. He must

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