Page 450 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 18 February 2015
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I made this point earlier in the debate, Madam Speaker. You asked me to clarify what had been said in the debate yesterday when I said that we were being threatened, when we were being threatened by those opposite. Let me quote from what Ms Burch said yesterday, to make it very clear what she said:
I just look to each and every one of you over there that have family and friends to understand that now you have opened the door for us to bring them into this place in any way, shape or form we like. That is what you have done today. That is exactly what you have done today.
Madam Speaker, the clear intimidation and threat made there against the opposition are apparent.
Mr Corbell: Point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Point of order, Mr Corbell. Stop the clock.
Mr Corbell: Madam Speaker, you have already indicated that assertions by Mr Hanson that the Labor Party is threatening him or members of the media are matters that you will review, but again I draw your attention to standing order 55, “Personal reflections”. It is a clear imputation of an improper motive. You have already indicated that you will review the matter, but he is continuing with this line of argument. I ask you to call him to order, having regard to your earlier ruling.
MADAM SPEAKER: On the point of order, I said that I would review the matter. Mr Hanson has sought to reinforce his claim by quoting—I presume quoting accurately—from Hansard yesterday. The matter will receive my active consideration. I ask Mr Hanson not to go down that path, because it is under my active consideration, but to refer to the motion, which is to set up an inquiry. Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is fundamentally apparent to me, to members of the opposition, to many people in the community, and indeed to Mr Rattenbury, from his words, that the Labor Party, Ms Burch and the Chief Minister, Mr Barr, have been dragged kicking and screaming to this point.
We have seen evasive answers to questions by Mr Barr. We have seen him label this media hysteria. We have seen Mr Barr say that the matter is closed. I ask whether that is in any way consistent with the members code of conduct, which calls on members in this place to:
Actively seek to prevent any conflict of interest, or the perception of such a conflict, arising between their duties as a Member and their personal affairs and interests, take all reasonable steps to resolve any such conflict or perception of a conflict that does arise …
Madam Speaker, it is evident that, rather than comply with the members code of conduct—as you will see if you go through the members code of conduct, and the ministerial code of conduct, it says here, “actively seek”—rather than deal with the matter, the reverse is true: those opposite actively sought to prevent any information getting out, actively sought to stop the media from making
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