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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (5 September) . . Page.. 3166 ..

MR SPEAKER: It has been withdrawn against Mr Connolly; I am happy with that.

Mrs Carnell: Absolutely; there are no problems there.

MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister - - -

Mrs Carnell: I am happy to withdraw. If this house would rather handle it in a different way, I am very happy to.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Chief Minister.

Mr Humphries: You cannot both be telling the truth.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, it is astonishing that a man, who just a moment ago pleaded for the application of standards in this place, then used a one-finger sign across the chamber to members in this place. That may not be against the wording of anything in the standing orders, but I would suggest that it is conduct which is entirely unparliamentary, and Mr Berry ought to live by the standard he urges on this place and be asked to withdraw those sorts of gestures in this chamber.

Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the gratuitous body language.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

Ms Follett: Mr Speaker, if I could just have a word on Mr Humphries's point of order: In Mr Berry's defence, I should say that he was responding to an interjection by Mr Humphries repeating the self-same defamatory statement that Mrs Carnell just had to withdraw, and that was, "You cannot both be telling the truth". The Chief Minister was shamed into withdrawing that imputation. The Chief Minister has been forced to withdraw that imputation. I think it is totally out of order for the Attorney-General then to repeat it across the floor of the Assembly.

MR SPEAKER: I did not hear the comment, I must admit.

Ms Follett: I certainly did.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Attorney, I certainly did not hear the comment.

Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, can we all stop being so precious and get on with the business of the Assembly?

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Kaine; at last some sense. This is worse than preschool.

Mr Berry: Mrs Carnell has been forced to withdraw.

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