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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Tuesday, 2 March 2004) . . Page.. 528 ..

The bill is Clayton’s law, it is bad law, it is law that will erode the very judicial system that the fairness of Australian society is based upon. I urge members not to vote for this bill tonight. If they do wish to vote for it, I would ask that they adjourn doing so to enable the community to become further involved in the discussion, because it is patently clear that through the consultation the bell did not toll in favour of the bill of rights; it tolled against it.

Mrs Dunne: I seek leave to speak again, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Leave not granted.

Suspension of standing and temporary orders

MRS DUNNE (6.23): I move:

That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent Mrs Dunne again addressing the Assembly.

I want to address the issue. Mr Deputy Speaker, this is a simple courtesy that is generally extended to people.

Mr Stanhope: We just gave five extensions to your leader. This is ridiculous. We are being courteous beyond endurance.

MRS DUNNE: In a discussion that I had with the Chief Minister just before we rose for lunch, he said that he would be happy, whilst not providing open slather for everyone, to give leave. It is not unprecedented for people to come in here and ask to speak again.

Mr Wood: Who else is going to ask?

MRS DUNNE: Does it matter? This is a debate about human rights, about the rights of people to express their views. Suddenly, when it becomes discomforting for the Chief Minister, what is the government going to do? It is going to apply the gag.

Mr Wood: Who else is going to jump up?

MRS DUNNE: It does not matter. I would tend to give leave, as I do in any case. I do not care whether you want to hear them or not. Sometimes I do not want to hear them, but we afford to people in this place the right to express themselves. Sometimes that is an inconvenience, but that is what democracy is about.

Question put:

That Mrs Dunne’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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