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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (4 September) . . Page.. 2891 ..

MR CORBELL (11.25): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to move a motion asking the Speaker to review Hansard in relation to a ruling.

Leave granted.

MR CORBELL: I move:

That, noting the ruling made by the Speaker on Wednesday, 3 September, concerning the ruling made by the Temporary Deputy Speaker concerning the use of the word "harlot" against a Member of the Assembly during proceedings on 2 September, the Assembly nevertheless calls on the Speaker to review the proof Hansard of the proceedings and determine whether the words used were offensive or disorderly and, if so found, direct that they be withdrawn. Further, the Assembly asks that the Speaker conclude his deliberations and report to the Assembly on his decision by the conclusion of question time today, Thursday, 4 September 1997.

Mr Speaker, it is pleasing to see that the Minister has finally chosen to withdraw the offensive word, but only belatedly and only after the Opposition indicated that it was willing to move this motion requiring you to rule on whether or not this language was unparliamentary. It has taken the Minister two days to decide that he has a guilty conscience and should have withdrawn. If he had done the decent thing, Mr Speaker, he would have withdrawn it immediately.

Mr Whitecross: He would not have used it.

MR CORBELL: Indeed, Mr Whitecross, he would not have used it in the first place. But having done so and having refused to withdraw it, despite comments from this side of the house and despite comments in this house yesterday, he has now chosen to do so purely to avoid being directed by the Speaker to withdraw. That is very disappointing. Nevertheless, we are pleased that the Minister has finally chosen to withdraw those comments. Mr Speaker, we also believe that it is appropriate that this Assembly call on you to make a ruling in regard to the use of that offensive word. We believe that it is inappropriate language, and we request you to report back to this Assembly at the conclusion of question time today and make a ruling on whether or not that language is indeed unparliamentary.

MR MOORE (11.27): Mr Speaker, I will be brief, but I think it is appropriate to relate the conversation that I had with Mr Humphries when I went to speak to him about this matter. I had already spoken to Mr Corbell and realised that he was going to put up the motion. When I approached Mr Humphries, I did not tell him that there would be a motion put up here. I actually went to him and I said, "Gary, I think you would have to agree with me that the word `harlot' is inappropriate, and you ought to withdraw it. We really need to clean this matter up". He said, "Yes, that is right, and I will".

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