Page 5320 - Week 12 - Thursday, 28 October 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (4.06): I thank Mr Smyth for bringing this matter of public importance into the Assembly today. I think Mr Smyth very appropriately captures what Minister Barr is all about with what he has just said. We indeed have here a fair-weather minister and a coward on the issue that we are debating this afternoon. All Mr Barr did during the 15 minutes allotted to him on the MPI was to give us a litany of budget related—
Mr Barr: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, I understand that only a matter of half an hour ago the Speaker ruled—
MR DOSZPOT: Can I have the clock stopped, please?
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Le Couteur): Yes, certainly.
Mr Barr: The Speaker ruled that the word “coward” was unparliamentary. Mr Smyth sought to replace that with “sissy”. He can reflect upon that as well.
Mr Smyth: There are a number of words you can use.
MR DOSZPOT: There are quite a number of words, but we are splitting hairs here, Madam Assistant Speaker.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I invite you to withdraw those words.
MR DOSZPOT: He is a minister who is afraid to address the issues.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, I invite you to withdraw.
MR DOSZPOT: I am; I am withdrawing it. I am trying to replace it with another word.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot, you need to withdraw it. Then you may continue with your speech. You need to withdraw it.
MR DOSZPOT: This is farcical. I will withdraw it for the sake of you asking.
Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker, the imputation that your ruling is farcical is, in fact, a reflection on the chair and I would ask you—in fact, I will do it myself. I invite Mr Doszpot to withdraw that.
MR DOSZPOT: I withdraw that unhesitatingly. That certainly was not meant to be any reflection on the chair. Madam Assistant Speaker, I withdraw the comment to you, which was not a comment to you, and I withdraw the comment about Mr Barr being a coward. But I will replace it with a minister who is so afraid of addressing the real issues.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Doszpot. Please restart the clock.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video