Page 247 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2016
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MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (12.35), by leave: Members, I wish to stand and apologise to the house. I was wrong before in using the date of 12 November. That is a research error on my part. I expressed at the time some uncertainty given the comments that were being made across the chamber.
It does not, however, change my substantive position on the issue, which is that I think this proposed disallowance is not correct. So I stand by that position. Certainly, in terms of Mr Hanson’s outrageous suggestion that I am smirking at the chamber, I simply reject that. I will not have Mr Hanson read into Hansard his interpretation of my facial expressions for his political purposes.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Planning and Land Management, Minister for Racing and Gaming and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (12.36): Madam Assistant Speaker, I seek leave to clarify the record.
Leave granted.
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes, I have made an error in regard to reading the notice paper and with respect to the four sitting days. However, I can say that this government wants to provide certainty for those Fluffy home owners. We want them to be able to take advantage of the land rent scheme, the most disadvantaged people—
Mr Smyth: How embarrassing.
MR GENTLEMAN: that we have been trying to assist.
Mr Smyth: Pretty embarrassing.
MR GENTLEMAN: Whilst this DI was sitting in place, it meant—
Ms Berry: A point of order, Madam Assistant Speaker.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: On a point of order, Ms Berry.
Ms Berry: I just heard Mr Smyth call out that Mr Gentleman was embarrassing. He should withdraw.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER: I am not sure that talking about being embarrassing is proscribed under the standing orders. I certainly cannot see a previous example of that in the Speaker’s rulings on unparliamentary language. However, I would ask people to exhibit the courtesy that we were speaking about earlier.
MR GENTLEMAN: As I was saying, the government wants to provide certainty for these people as soon as possible. There was no indication from Mr Coe’s office that this motion was going to come forward; therefore disallowance would occur. We did contact his office, and that was the information provided to us. I hope that clarifies the record.
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