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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Wednesday, 23 June 2004) . . Page.. 2599 ..

of politicians, whether public servants or not, will now be questioning their options of employment once they leave this place.

I will mention the standing orders in case Mr Stanhope thinks his actions were acceptable. Standing order 117, concerning the rules of questions, says that questions shall not contain statements of fact or names of persons, unless they are strictly necessary to render the question intelligible and the facts can be authenticated. In the back of the standing orders, under freedom of speech, it is said that the Assembly considers that, in speaking in the Assembly or in a committee, members should take into account the need to exercise their valuable right of freedom of speech in a responsible manner and the need for members, while fearlessly performing their duties, to have regard to the rights of others.

I understand that the Chief Minister thought that it was important to debunk the arguments I was putting, but I am shocked and disheartened that he would abandon all proper procedure in regard to one of his very fine public servants and treat that person in such a grubby manner simply to make a cheap political point. Mr Stanhope gets angry. It is a worry that in that anger he will ride roughshod over others. I ask him to apologise to Mr McAllister.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

The Assembly adjourned at 10.49 pm.

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