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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Thursday, 5 August 2004) . . Page.. 3514 ..

Chief Minister—memory loss

MRS DUNNE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister has claimed that he suffered post-traumatic amnesia as an excuse for his inability to recall key events surrounding the 18 January bushfire.

Mr Stanhope: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: that’s not true; that’s not correct. Mrs Dunne has just misled the Assembly, and I ask her to withdraw that erroneous statement.

MR SPEAKER: That is not a point of order, but you will be able to respond, I think.

Mr Stanhope: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: what Mrs Dunne has just said is a lie.

MR SPEAKER: The truthfulness or otherwise of elements of the question is not a matter I can rule on. If Mrs Dunne has said something in her question that you want to refute, I think you’re going to have the opportunity to do so.

MRS DUNNE: I suppose, to be more precise, the Chief Minister said he suffered from “memory index loss” as a result of the trauma surrounding the fires.

Mr Stanhope: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: I am pleased that Mrs Dunne has just admitted she lied. She has now corrected the record, and I’m grateful for that.

Mr Stefaniak: “Lying” is unparliamentary, Mr Speaker. He should withdraw that.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, withdraw the word “lying”, Chief Minister.

Mr Stanhope: I will withdraw it, but we have noticed that Mrs Dunne just corrected the untruths she just told. There are one too many lies in this place.

Mr Smyth: Mr Speaker, I have a point of order. Ask him to withdraw that.

MR SPEAKER: Withdraw it, Chief Minister.

Mr Stanhope: Mr Speaker, I said, “There are one too many lies in this place.” I did not make an imputation about another member of this place.

MR SPEAKER: I think it would be better for all of us if you withdrew it.

Mr Stanhope: I withdraw it, Mr Speaker.

MRS DUNNE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think I will start from the beginning. The Chief Minister has attributed his “memory loss” to the trauma of events around the 18 January fire. The Chief Minister may also be aware that the Melbourne Storm footballer Danny Williams recently claimed that he had memory loss as a result of trauma, after being charged with king-hitting Mark O’Neill of the Wests Tigers at Leichardt Oval on 16 July 2004.

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