Page 4557 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 6 December 1994
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Mr Berry: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: There was an imputation that Mr Connolly was lying.
MR MOORE: He has a long nose and it is growing.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Moore, I wish that you would withdraw any imputation that the Minister was lying.
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, just to seek clarification, I certainly intend to use the phrase "Mr Connolly's nose is growing longer" through the rest of this debate, coolly and calmly. I think it is appropriate to say that his nose is growing longer, without going to extremes - in fact, not even using the word "misrepresentation". It is just part of parliamentary debate, I would put to you.
Ms Follett: On the point of order: Madam Speaker, I know of only one possible interpretation of somebody's nose getting longer, and that is that that person is telling lies. It is quite clearly Mr Moore's intention to impute that Mr Connolly is telling lies. I think that is unparliamentary and ought to be withdrawn.
MADAM SPEAKER: I am ruling that from now on that phrase will no longer be used. Mr Moore, your time has expired.
MR MOORE: I seek an extension of time, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: The time allowed for this whole debate is 15 minutes.
MR MOORE: I will only be short. (Extension of time granted) I shall be brief.
Mr Connolly: And table your advice, I presume.
MR MOORE: I seek leave to table that advice. I think it will be important for the rest of the debate, so members should have the opportunity to have it photocopied and circulated.
Leave granted.
MR MOORE: It was in the light of the debate that has gone on, and the fact that we had a sensible decision from the Liberal Party on the facts before them, that we set out to waive a fine for people who were in the most dire circumstances, and we trusted our medical practitioners, especially those engaged in medical research, to do that. That is the import of the Bill; that is clearly what it does. Whilst I cannot make the comment I made before about noses, that is clearly what it does, in spite of the fact that some people suggest that it does otherwise. Therefore, I think there is no need whatsoever to reconsider that piece of legislation. It should stand.
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