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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 698 ..

MR HIRD: Thank you, Mr Speaker; a wise decision, sir. I am pleased to say that, in spite of veiled inferences levelled at me by Mr Whitecross on that occasion, the Auditor-General has found that the selection of Harold Hird and Associates as the auctioneer was, in his words, "fair and unbiased".

Mr Berry: I raise a point of order. If Mr Hird wants to make some attacks on Mr Whitecross, he should seek leave to do so in the course of a statement to the Assembly; but, if he wants to make a personal explanation, he should keep to the personal facts. If he wants to seek leave to make a personal attack on Mr Whitecross, he should seek leave to do so. We will give it to him. Similarly, we will give Mr Whitecross leave to respond.

MR HIRD: I will be guided by the Speaker, as always, and I am making it personal.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Hird, have you finished your statement?

MR HIRD: No, I have not, sir.

MR SPEAKER: If you are going to attack Mr Whitecross rather than make a personal explanation - and I cannot judge that; it is what you have before you - then you do have the opportunity of seeking leave to make a statement. But I must, of course, advise you that that will then open the matter for full debate in the Assembly.

MR HIRD: I am not attacking Mr Whitecross.

MR SPEAKER: The Opposition has indicated that it would be happy to give you leave.

MR HIRD: I am making a personal explanation on the fact that Mr Whitecross attacked me on 18 October last year.

Mr Kaine: Erroneously.

MR HIRD: Yes, erroneously. He attacked me. I am not attacking him. I am saying that he attacked me.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Whitecross: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: Is it customary to address the Chair whilst sitting down?

MR SPEAKER: It is not customary to remain seated when addressing the Chair, either.

Mr Whitecross: I have a further point of order. On the question of standing order 46, Mr Hird has said that he drew some inferences last year about what I might or might not have thought. He has not said what I said which misrepresented him and why that was wrong. That is what he has to do if he is making a personal explanation.

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