Page 3752 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 29 October 2014
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MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hanson! You have an opportunity to respond.
MR RATTENBURY: Have a policy discussion, as this place should. Of course, that is very convenient. It underlines the fact that Mr Hanson is simply an opportunist who does not stand for anything other than what suits Jeremy Hanson on the day, at the time, for the most political convenience for him. That is something that I think is becoming clearer every day that he is the Leader of the Opposition in this place.
Mindful of the hour of the day, I do not intend to make further comments. I will simply say that I appreciate the amendment brought forward by Minister Corbell. I think it draws out the careful balance that is required in this matter. It underlines the fact that there are mixed factual outcomes around the use of tasers. I think that Minister Corbell has proposed an appropriate way forward.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.33 to 2.30 pm.
Unparliamentary language
Statement by Speaker
MADAM SPEAKER: Before I call Mr Hanson, I would like to revisit an issue in relation to question time yesterday. I have been advised that there was a review of the Hansard and no-one could hear anyone use the word “hypocrisy” or the word “hypocrite”, although there was a lot of interjection at the time. I have made rulings in the past in relation to “hypocrisy” and “hypocrite” and I would refer members to the ruling of Mr Berry in October 2003, which is at paragraph 10.86 of the Companion.
I would reinforce that “hypocrisy” is a word that in my view borders on the unparliamentary, whereas clearly calling someone a “hypocrite” is unparliamentary and is an inappropriate epithet. However, I was aware this morning that the word “hypocrisy” was bandied about, I think by my count, on three occasions. In thinking about Speaker Berry’s ruling, he said that he would keep it in mind and he would make rulings and intervene if the use of the word would lead to disorder. I would ask members to keep that in mind, that if there is repeated and frequent use at one time of the word “hypocrisy” in an attempt to get around the standing orders, I will rule it out of order.
Questions without notice
Transport—light rail
MR HANSON: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, on 21 October this year, you said in this place in relation to light rail:
The community will be well served in the future by a very modern transport system to enable them to get around this city easily as the community grows into a much bigger city than we are today.
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