Page 542 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 1990
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Assembly Members' Behaviour
MR SPEAKER: On Wednesday, 21 February 1990, Mr Berry directed questions to me concerning comments that I made on the behaviour of some unnamed members during a radio interview. I do not intend to name the members, as suggested by Mr Berry in a supplementary question. However, I apologise to all members for the strong words used during that minor segment of a lengthy interview. Nevertheless, I call on all members to ensure that their self-imposed standards are appropriate.
Assembly Members - Imputations
MR SPEAKER: I have another statement. At the Assembly's last sitting on Thursday, 22 February 1990, two requests were made of me to order the withdrawal of alleged imputations against members. I undertook to consider both matters. The first request was made by Mr Collaery in relation to a comment made by Mr Whalan during question time. The second request was made by Mr Moore who asked that Mr Stevenson be required to withdraw an alleged imputation made during a personal explanation.
Under our standing orders all imputations of improper motives and personal reflections on members are considered highly disorderly, and it is the duty of the Speaker to determine whether words are offensive or disorderly. I have examined the Hansard record of both occasions and do not regard either remark of such a nature as to require withdrawal. In the cut and thrust of debate many things are said about members, and that will always be the case. In both instances I do not regard the comments to be so offensive in a personal way as to require a withdrawal, and I regard the matter as closed.
On a related matter members may have noted that certain comments of an objectionable nature were made in the Assembly relating to alleged insobriety on the evening of 13 February last. At the time I called for an unequivocal withdrawal of the comments, and I believed that the withdrawal was made. However, having considered the Hansard record, I note that the remarks were not unequivocally withdrawn, as I had requested. I believe, and I am sure the Assembly would agree, that the comment was objectionable and offensive. Consideration was given to the deletion of the incident from Hansard; however, that course was not pursued.
Could I stress to members the need to ensure that the language used in the Assembly is of a high standard at all times. I believe that the comments made on the evening of the 13th reflected poorly on the Assembly and on the member who made them. As I have stated, at the time I believed a withdrawal had been made, and therefore I do not propose to pursue that particular matter any further. However, I put
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