Page 2849 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 2013

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For those reasons and those reasons alone, let alone many other things that have been said today, this motion should be supported by this Assembly.

Question put:

That the motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Estimates 2013-2014—Select Committee

Statement by Speaker

MADAM SPEAKER: I would like to go back to an item that arose this morning. I want to make a statement concerning the use of unparliamentary language, particularly that which occurred in the dissenting report and subsequent discussion in speeches in the Assembly. Standing order 54 states that a member may not use offensive words against the Assembly or any member of the Assembly, and standing order 55 says that all imputations of improper motives and all personal reflections on members shall be considered highly disorderly.

I note that the word “bullying” has been previously ordered to be withdrawn on numerous occasions in the Assembly by numerous Speakers. Consistent with previous rulings, I believe to call a member a bully, even through the device of a dissenting report, is unparliamentary, and I call upon Mr Gentleman and Dr Bourke to withdraw the imputations.

Mr Gentleman: I withdraw the imputation.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Gentleman.

Dr Bourke: I withdraw.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Dr Bourke. I also draw members’ attention to page 514 of House Of Representatives Practice, to which we are linked. It says a member is not allowed to use unparliamentary words by device of putting them in somebody else’s mouth or in the course of a quotation. As such, Mr Barr quoted the dissenting report and, therefore, I call on Mr Barr to withdraw the imputation.

Mr Barr: I withdraw.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, members.

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