Page 761 - Week 02 - Thursday, 10 March 2011
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capacity of an Assistant Speaker in this place. I have sat in that chair and observed the behaviours of all parts of the chamber. I have been moved occasionally to warn people myself. In doing it, I reflected on some past Assemblies and how, in fact, I have served under Speaker Berry and under Speaker Cornwell as well as yourself.
I can recall the even-handedness of both Speaker Berry and Speaker Cornwell at times in very trying times, particularly when we were in opposition. We were quite enthusiastic and quite vocal, and we quite often got warned—and occasionally, every now and again, we got a holiday.
If I have a concern, it has been as Mr Corbell said. Your patience has been sorely tried to the point of almost breaking but you have only given one member a holiday in this place that I can recall. I have to suggest to you—
Ms Bresnan: I don’t think so; it was Caroline.
MR HARGREAVES: Well, I take it back: it was Ms Le Couteur, and all power to her arm I say too. It is not something that people take lightly, to ask a member to withdraw their services from the house. There is a tendency for too much concerted heckling and abuse going across the chamber and too much of it from one source.
I do actually draw the chamber’s attention to the fact that there have been members on this side of the house officially warned. I do draw the attention of the house to standing orders 202 and 203, which do not require the Speaker to issue an official warning. The Speaker has it within the authority of the chair to promptly name somebody for being continually disruptive or disorderly, and you have never taken that option.
I think that your generosity to those opposite and, indeed, to my side is something which I have to say I cannot duplicate. I do not have the patience that you do. Sometimes it is frustrating for me to see how much patience you actually do dish out for people. However, I must say this about this debate so far. It started out with a dissent from your ruling when you warned Mr Doszpot. Whether or not Mr Doszpot deserved the warning is for you to judge. That is why we give you the confidence of the house in your position in the chair.
But the actual debate so far has not been about that particular ruling. Mrs Dunne did skirt around it for a while. She did not refer to it for a little while. It has actually been about your performance generally as a Speaker. It has been about your dual role, if you wish, in this chamber. That was the substance of Mr Hanson’s contribution to this debate.
What we may think and what we may do outside this chamber—even, indeed, in the context of debate—is one thing. But, Mr Speaker, you enjoy the confidence of this house as you sit in that chair. I, for one, will not vote for your removal from that chair. I think that is where this is leading. This is what I think is happening. I think this is a lead-up to a motion of want of confidence. If, in fact, those opposite have such a view I challenge them to do it now. Do it right now and let us be done with it. Then, once done with it, let us put it in the bin forever.
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