Page 990 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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It comes as no surprise to anyone in that hearing and subsequently that I have taken great offence at Mr Hanson’s comments and I see no other way, no other interpretation of the comment “trousering money”, than to suggest that that sort of comment is implying some sort of corrupt or illegal behaviour. I do note, as I have before, that previous Speakers have ruled that out of order, and “hands in pockets” and all of that have been ruled out of order in the past by—
Mr Hanson: No, it has not.
MR BARR: Yes, “having hands in everyone’s pocket” by Speaker Cornwell, a Liberal Speaker.
Mr Coe: No, but “trousering”, the word “trousering”?
MR BARR: No, “having hands in everybody’s pocket”. “Having your hands in someone’s pocket” was withdrawn in 1993 and Deputy Speaker Cornwell required someone to withdraw “having hands in everyone’s pockets”. There was an apology and a withdrawal.
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, please, no interjections. Mr Barr.
MR BARR: This suggestion that was made during the hearings that money was going into my pocket, I still take offence to. But I recognise my chance of getting an apology or a withdrawal of that comment is pretty limited, it would seem. This morning I have withdrawn any suggestion that I will pursue defamation action against Mr Hanson, and I withdraw the comments that I have made. There is just no point, absolutely no point, pursuing it any further.
The amendments that I have circulated include the full relevant part of the transcript for the admin and procedure committee to consider. Amendment (3) inserts a new (6):
“(6) That these matters—
“these matters”, plural—
be referred to the Administration and Procedure Committee to consider any further action on this matter.”.
I think, with that, we have canvassed all the issues that we can possibly canvass on this question and it now falls, if this is agreed, to the admin and procedure committee to consider any further action.
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (4.37): I rise to make a response to what Mr Barr has said. I think that the Hansard record is freely available for people to review. The advice is freely available for people to review. They can watch Assembly on Demand. There is no attempt by anyone, I think, to cut and tail the words that are there. I think
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