Page 4922 - Week 17 - Tuesday, 11 December 1990
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DISORDER IN ASSEMBLY
Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I wish to raise a point of order under standing order 202 in relation to a member who persistently and wilfully obstructed the business of this Assembly on 29 November, who was guilty of gross disorderly conduct, who persistently and wilfully refused to conform to any standing order and who persistently and wilfully disregarded the authority of the Chair. Mr Speaker, I refer to Dr Kinloch in relation to that - - -
Mr Collaery: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: One point of order at a time. Order, Mr Collaery, it is a point of order. I can only take one at a time.
Mr Berry: The fact that confronts the Assembly, Mr Speaker, is that there was a gross confrontation in this place. I have to say that none of the Government members opposite will be expert enough to speak on this matter because none of them were here when Dr Kinloch entered this chamber and in the most violent way meandered around this Assembly threatening members with clenched fist. There were some of us who felt intimidated by that and some of us who felt that it verged upon an assault.
Mr Speaker, the issue that is before you is one of setting standards in this Assembly and maintaining some of those precedents which have been set in the past in terms of the maintenance of order here. The Assembly has been suspended on one occasion and I take it that it was suspended in accordance with standing order 207, which states:
In the case of grave disorder arising in the Assembly, the Speaker may adjourn the Assembly without question put, or suspend any sitting to a time to be named by the Speaker.
In that case, of course, it was because of the behaviour of the Chief Minister. I can only assume that it was suspended because of grave disorder and the fact that the Chief Minister would not accept the rulings of the Speaker. The actions of the Chief Minister, though grave indeed, pale into insignificance compared with the threatening action taken by Dr Kinloch in this place on 29 November and the sitting was not suspended. Although you gave reasons why you did not suspend the sitting, Mr Speaker, I think firmer action is required to ensure that the dignity of this place is in some way preserved. I will just refer to a couple of - - -
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, are you going to continue to allow this?
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