Page 1709 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 18 May 1994
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Ms Follett: Madam Speaker, on a point of order: Mr Humphries, referring to Mr Berry, said, "You are as thick as two short planks". That is very much a personal reflection on a member and I think it should be withdrawn.
MADAM SPEAKER: I think that is right, Ms Follett. Would you please withdraw that, Mr Humphries.
Mr Humphries: I am sorry; he is only as thick as one short plank, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Humphries, please withdraw that.
Mr Humphries: I withdraw, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Berry, on reflection, I think you had better withdraw "You misled me", too. My first interpretation was along the lines of "You confused me", and I have reconsidered.
MR BERRY: Done, Madam Speaker. Those comments show just how spiteful this lot can be and how spiteful Mr Humphries in particular can be. You would not think that on an uncontroversial motion like this, where the Liberals agreed and were going to vote with us, they would argue so strenuously against it. It absolutely fascinates me that we get this sort of overkill about a motion they are going to vote for. You are all going to vote for it still, are you not, Mr Humphries?
Mr Humphries: I am not saying anything, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: You said that to me before. Have you changed your mind? Do I have to have a tape-recorder with me every time I talk to you? You made it clear to me that you were going to support this, then we hear this great debate about - - -
Mr Humphries: Yes, that is right; I did.
MR BERRY: You did; okay. Gee, it is very hard to fathom the level of support amongst the Liberals, when you listen to the debate. Once the motion was amended to suit Mr Humphries - one expected that he went back and consulted with his colleagues, or some of them - one would have expected that the motion would pass without much notice. But surprise, surprise! A new twist, not raised in discussions, is the issue of whether members in this chamber would be able to present papers. That is okay. If you want to present papers, nobody is going to resist that course; but it would have been nice had you raised it with me in the course of consultation about the motion proper. I wonder whether you raised this amendment with Mr Stevenson. No.
Mr Humphries: No; you did not raise the whole motion with Mr Stevenson.
MR BERRY: I did. It was on his table, and I rang him up and discussed it with him.
Mr Stevenson: After lunch, Wayne.
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