Page 588 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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Mr Hanson: Mr Hargreaves just interjected, saying: “I hope you’ve got some big brothers. You’re going to need them.” That seemed to be quite a threatening remark coming from Mr Hargreaves; I would ask him to withdraw that.
Mr Hargreaves: Madam Deputy Speaker, on that point of order, that was a response, a jovial response, to Mr Hanson’s interjection that my colleagues had deserted me. It was a nice light-hearted “banterous” exchange across the chamber. However, I have made a very big mistake in thinking that there was a sense of humour at play there. I apologise for that.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, are you therefore saying that you are withdrawing?
Mr Rattenbury: On the point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker, having observed this exchange, I simply rise to inform you that I think Mr Hargreaves’s analysis is correct. There was some banter going across the chamber, which was coming by smiles on both sides of the chamber. I think that context needs to be taken into account.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Rattenbury. I did not hear the exchange at all. Mr Smyth, would you like to continue?
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is interesting. If I smile and say, “I think you are a liar,” that is okay; but if I do not smile and I say, “I think you are a liar,” then it has to be withdrawn. It is an interesting standard we are slipping into, but it is part of a pattern of behaviour. If we want to throw things across the chamber like “I hope you’ve got big brothers; you’re going to need them”, we need to ask where we are going. That is why a floor has got to be put under this.
I cannot see how members could not reasonably agree with the motion. We have had some comments that nobody else in the place agrees to. We have had some comments that have seen phone calls made to the president of the TCC by Mr Hargreaves and by the Chief Minister. We have had a letter now written by the Chief Minister that says some interesting words but I do not believe that it apologises. Yet the behaviour goes on.
I got censured in this place for the tone of a press release—the tone of the press release. It was not the words; it was the tone of the press release. It is an interesting standard that we apply. I can understand it. We saw them at the Multicultural Festival—both sides under the same roof. There they were in the tent together. We understand that the coalition is working well on the far side of the chamber. But if we are to adhere to the code of conduct, and if we are to impress on the people of the ACT that we do believe in the code of conduct and that we actually live by it, there needs to be some consequence as a result of what happens.
That is the point of this motion. The motion is quite simple. Part (1)(a) says:
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