Page 4560 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 19 October 2010
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commission was invoked on the complaints of Burns and Fryar, but his mere saying so cannot repair the deficiency.
I repeat that by simply coming in here today and saying that he did it according to Hoyle does not prove the matter. I thank the minister for tabling the papers, because the members of the Assembly who are interested in this matter—and we should be interested in this matter; this was a very serious course of action to take—can now examine it. Members of the community can examine the papers and see whether Mr Corbell’s assertion that he did things in accordance with the act actually holds water.
There are many concerns about the attorney’s actions here and his apparent cavalier disregard and disrespect for the ACT judiciary. There is no point coming in here afterwards saying, “I really have a great deal of respect for them.” More importantly, by your actions shall you know him, and we have seen with this Attorney-General a man who was almost salivating with anticipation, in the anticipation of setting up a judicial commission. His excitement was palpable when he spoke about these matters. The fact that he was prepared to contemplate at a very early stage pursuing Mr Cahill into retirement shows that he was not being an Attorney-General who measures things as they should be, but that he was pursuing a vendetta. I am not sure what the cause or the root of that vendetta was—
Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, Mrs Dunne is alluding that I had some personal vendetta against a former chief magistrate that led me to establish a judicial commission. I find that offensive in the extreme. It is an allegation made without any substantiation and, Madam Assistant Speaker—
Mr Seselja: On the point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, there has to be a standing order under which he is making this point of order.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): One minute, Mr Seselja.
Mr Corbell: it is grossly disorderly because it is an imputation on my character which I cannot allow to stand. The suggestion, Madam Assistant Speaker, that I established a judicial commission because I had a vendetta is outrageous; it is without foundation—
Mr Seselja: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, he is now debating the issue. He will have the opportunity if he wants to speak again—
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, one moment.
Mr Seselja: He is not able to flout points of order in order to debate the merits of the matter.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, I think—
Mr Corbell: It is an improper imputation. Madam Assistant Speaker, it is an improper imputation. That is disorderly and I ask you to direct Mrs Dunne to withdraw.
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