Page 3488 - Week 09 - Thursday, 20 August 2009
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MR CORBELL: No, I have not, Mr Seselja, but you are about to hear one. I would like to thank Mr Doszpot for the opportunity to speak today on the issue of the ministerial code of conduct. Before I talk in some detail about the operation of the code and the principles that underpin it and why it is important, I would like to first of all make some other comments in relation to what would appear to be the motivations for this MPI today.
I do not think I have ever seen an opposition which has sought to prosecute some sort of argument against a minister. I must say, I think everyone other than the Liberal Party is at a complete loss to understand what the argument is. But they seem to have got something up their nose about something Mr Barr has said or done. If they want to make reflections about the behaviour of members in this place, then they should have the courage of their convictions to move a motion in this place that would allow the matter to be debated.
We have just heard all the fake machismo and anger from Mr Seselja about how I am trying to stifle him because he is making speeches in ways which are not consistent with the standing orders. But if they want to pursue—
Mr Seselja: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker: the debate on standing orders is not relevant to the MPI. Mr Corbell has had plenty of opportunity to make the case, disrupting my speech, but I do not think now is the time to be re-litigating that. He should stick to the subject matter of the matter of public importance.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Burch): Thank you, Mr Seselja. Mr Corbell, on the matter of public importance.
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. Of course they should have the courage of their convictions to move a motion. If they feel so strongly about it, they should move a motion and then we can have the debate and they can make whatever accusations they like in that context.
Mr Hanson: Madam Assistant Speaker, you have made your ruling. He should now go to the matter of public importance. He completely ignored your ruling and went straight back to—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: No, I assumed he was coming to it. Mr Corbell, on the matter of public importance, please.
Mr Seselja: He is calling into question our integrity, surely. Surely you are not reflecting on us, are you, Simon?
MR CORBELL: Reflecting on you?
Mr Seselja: Yes, you are reflecting on our motives or our—
MR CORBELL: I do not know. Am I?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Silence, please. Mr Corbell, on the matter of public importance.
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