Page 3669 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 26 August 2008

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

---

MR SPEAKER: I am looking for an artifice, if you like, to resolve a situation which was visited on the Assembly by some confusion about management of issues in the Assembly. In my view, the numbers were altered because of some confusion about the way people manage their attendance in this place. I am relying on the confusion which was caused as a result of the differences over the way members attended the chamber.

Mr Mulcahy: But, Mr Speaker, the standing order is pretty clear. It says “in case of confusion or error concerning the numbers reported”. I would not have thought there was any confusion on the numbers reported.

MR SPEAKER: It adds “unless the same can be otherwise corrected, the Assembly shall proceed to another vote”. I can do this again, with the leave of the Assembly, if it would clarify the issue—and I think that may be one way of dealing with it—and then everybody is satisfied. With leave of the Assembly, the matter can be resolved. I am prepared to seek the leave of the chamber to recommit the vote. Is leave granted?

Leave granted.

MR SPEAKER: I will do it again.

Question put:

That Mr Pratt be suspended from the service of the Assembly.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Mr Pratt was therefore suspended at 8.36 pm for three sitting hours in accordance with standing order 204, and he accordingly withdrew from the chamber.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Mulcahy, for raising that standing order. The matter has been resolved more adequately, I think, by having leave of the chamber.

Question put:

That Orders of the Day Nos 2, 3 and 4 be postponed until a later hour this day.

The Assembly voted—

---

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .