Page 599 - Week 02 - Thursday, 6 March 2008
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MR SMYTH: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, being entirely relevant and addressing Mr Corbell’s arguments, Mr Corbell talked about participation. I was there; I have got a submission. Do not take my word for it; here is the submission from the office about these issues. These submissions were discussed by the committee. Now, if you have been misinformed or you were not there for the part of that discussion—
Mr Corbell: Point of order, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker: Mr Smyth should address his comments through the chair and not directly at me. He knows that is quite disorderly.
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Indeed, thank you.
MR SMYTH: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am sorry that I have offended the sensibilities of the minister. But the reality is that you were actually at that meeting, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker. I have got your name on the list: Mr Gentleman; you were there. The issue here is that Mr Corbell said these matters should have been discussed in the committee. They were discussed in the committee, and it is every member’s right to pursue whatever avenues they can under the standing orders to put their case. We are simply putting the case again in a very public venue that we think these standing committees should be listed in the standing orders. The Assembly Committee Office had the same opinion.
The fact that the committee in the end decided not to proceed with it is for the committee. But what this house does is for this house to decide. It is open to every member to move amendments as they see fit. I think it is a clear indication of how stung the minister is over his lack of knowledge of this matter. I am sure he will be taking this up with the Labor Party whip as to how she forgot that these things had been discussed—
Mr Corbell: Point of order, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker: again, the issue is relevance. Communications I have with the government whip have nothing to do with the resolution that the Assembly has before it at this time. It is about whether or not Mrs Dunne’s amendment should be accepted. If the Liberal Party are going to object to me making commentary about their approach, they cannot have it both ways and then seek to do the same thing again. I was drawn to order on these matters, and so should Mr Smyth be.
Mrs Dunne: You were drawn to order for being disorderly.
MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, please do not interject. The question is that Mrs Dunne’s amendment be agreed to.
MR MULCAHY (Molonglo) (11.55): I would like to speak on the amendment put forward. I cannot support it in its current form. It is a pity Mrs Dunne did not separate parts 1 and 2 of her amendment because they would have been more acceptable.
Mrs Dunne is correct in noting the fact that the particular concept here arose as a result of our attendance on behalf of this place at a commonwealth parliamentary
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