Page 2295 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 22 June 2011
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(b) fulfil the commitment it made to the Assembly on 17 November 2010 to conduct poverty impact analysis of significant new policies and programs and report to the Assembly by the last sitting day in September on the details of analyses undertaken.”.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) (4.16): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for providing an opportunity to address such an important issue. As the Chief Minister has indicated, the government will be amending this motion, as it misleads both the Assembly and the ACT public. While there have been price increases—
Mrs Dunne: A point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): Excuse me, minister. Stop the clock. Mrs Dunne.
Mrs Dunne: Ms Burch, by saying that the motion misleads the Assembly, by implication says that Mr Seselja is misleading the Assembly, and she must withdraw that.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Ms Burch, continue.
MS BURCH: Thank you. While there have been price increases since 2001—
Mrs Dunne: Mr Assistant Speaker, on a point of order, could I seek your guidance? In what sense is saying that Mr Seselja’s motion misleads the Assembly not unparliamentary words?
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I am sorry, Mrs Dunne; I was just getting the clock stopped.
Mrs Dunne: I understand. I am seeking your guidance.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Yes, I am happy to address that. My interpretation of the rules is that where a member is actually named in the accusation of misleading the chamber, that is unparliamentary. When there is an oblique reference to a motion which may very well do so, I do not consider that to be misleading.
Mrs Dunne: So that is the standard ruling in this place?
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: That is my interpretation.
Mrs Dunne: To say Mr Seselja’s motion misleads the Assembly is not unparliamentary?
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I do not believe that is a direct implication, a direct accusation that Mr Seselja has misled the Assembly, no.
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