Page 857 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2012
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MR SPEAKER: On the point of order, Mr Hanson, I think you may have missed it. I heard Mr Hargreaves say something different. I think he was referring to the fact that you slashed him to pieces. I did not hear him say he was going to slash you to pieces.
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, he said that Mr Hanson slashed him to pieces and that he would return the favour, therefore, implying that he too would attempt to slash Mr Hanson to pieces.
MR SPEAKER: I will be happy to go back and listen to the tape. Nonetheless, given the points raised by Mr Hanson, and he was given some latitude in his speech, I think there is space for Mr Hargreaves. Mr Hargreaves, I would ask you to limit your remarks and focus on the motion.
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Hanson talked about our motion to make the membership of the administration and procedure committee to assist the Speaker in the administration precinct to be those people appointed as whips. I do not resile from that motion. I think it is the most appropriate one, as I alluded to in the first place. It just shows to me an absolute lack of understanding from Mr Hanson over there of what the duties of a whip really should be. I might take the liberty of—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members! Thank you. I cannot hear Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: I might take the liberty at some point of actually doing a duty statement for Mr Hanson and provide him with a copy of it so that he will then understand exactly what he is supposed to do.
He says that I sit here with next to nothing to do, then slides in the word “comparatively” afterwards. I would remind Mr Hanson that there are only two members of the non-executive on this side of the chamber and, in fact, prior to my resignation as whip, I was on the equivalent of six committees. Ms Porter is on that same equivalent. I am still on five committees of this place, the equivalent of five committees. I hardly think that that is sitting here doing nothing.
Furthermore, Mr Hanson is very free with his words: I am forced to do this and I am forced to do that. Mr Speaker, you have a copy of my resignation as the whip, and you would know that it was not an instruction from the Chief Minister. It was an invitation from me. Mr Hanson can laugh his head off but it absolutely does not make a jot of difference. It does not contribute to the validity of his argument one bit to insist on these things.
He also had a go at me about behaviour. Let me just talk about that for a second or two. How many times has Mr Hanson had his services withdrawn from this chamber? I suggest to you at least once. It has never happened to me, never. Fourteen years of service in this place and I have never, ever been dealt with by this parliament. Mr Hanson has. I have never had the repetition of warnings that Mr Hanson has on the record. The number of times he has been warned is legion in this place. He should
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