Page 758 - Week 02 - Thursday, 10 March 2011
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Mr Speaker, for that reason I do not think there can be any justification for the claim that you are treating those on the other side of chamber unfavourably or unfairly. Indeed, Mr Speaker, in relation to the instance that has caused this ill-judged motion by Mrs Dunne, your warning of Mr Doszpot, Mr Doszpot repeatedly interjected over the Chief Minister in his answer, and continued to do so after you drew his attention to the fact that he was acting in a disorderly manner. Indeed, it was only when he continued to interject after you had gently indicated to him that he was acting in a disorderly manner that you felt you had to warn him.
The chair’s admonishments and the chair’s directions to members in this place must be had regard to. Members cannot continue to interject or continue in their manner of behaviour after that has been brought to their attention by the chair. That is what Mr Doszpot did, and he was rightly warned for his behaviour.
Mr Speaker, the government does not support this motion today. It is unwarranted, it is ill judged and Mrs Dunne should reflect on the behaviour of herself and her colleagues before she points the finger at you.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (2.58): I would just like to make the point that in light of the standing orders, in referring to standing orders, you have been very clear with your rulings not just this week but over the last two years in the Assembly. You have made very clear the way you would operate the rules in the Assembly. And also this week, as we know, there have been a number of warnings already given out to the members of the opposition. Mr Hargreaves also made it clear during the week and then you also made it clear that you would carry through on those orders he had put forward, again referring to the standing orders.
If we do go back to the standing orders—you have been very clear about your rulings. I do not believe there is any ambiguity in what you have put forward. We will not be dissenting from your ruling—the Greens will not be—because you have been very clear, in light of the standing orders, how you will conduct business this week. Mr Doszpot was warned. He had interjected on a number of occasions and you again were just carrying out the standing orders. I think it is very clear in that process that you have been following those directly, and that is why those warnings have been made against the members of the opposition—because there has been continual interjecting today and also throughout the week. That has been the policy which has been carried forward.
MR HANSON (Molonglo) (3.00): Mr Speaker, in reviewing your actions over the last few weeks, clearly there are occasions when you have warned the opposition, and you have warned me, and it has been quite correct that you did so. I think that there are occasions when I and others in the Liberal opposition have behaved in a manner that warranted the warnings; there is no question. The problem is that there are those opposite that likewise have deserved your warning and have deserved action. An example that I have noticed is the continual interjections, often when I speak, and exclamations of “grub” that come out of, in particular, the Chief Minister and Mr Corbell.
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