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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 7 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 2125 ..

MR OSBORNE (5.24): I think in the last Assembly we had nine or 10 censure motions. I have to say, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, that this is probably the most pathetic one that I have had to speak to during my time here. I am going to relay a conversation that I had with Mr Stanhope in the lobby out there. I do not like to do this, but it relates to this issue. Mr Stanhope came out and said, "Brendan Smyth has misled". I will give you an abbreviated version. Mr Stanhope said, "We are going to give him the opportunity to clarify and apologise. If he does not we are going to censure him". I said, "Well, fair enough. Let me have a look at Hansard where he misled". I looked at it. I spoke to Mr Smyth and then a few minutes ago I heard Mr Smyth stand up and clarify that, yes, the TWU had put a proposal forward. I did hear him say, "If I have misled I apologise".

Mr Stanhope: I did not hear that.

Mr Humphries: He already has. He said it once. That is all he has to say. Once is enough.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Osborne has the call. Both sides of the house will come to order.

MR OSBORNE: What is the point of the censure motion? I cannot see the point of the censure motion when - - -

Mr Stanhope: We would not have moved it if he apologised.

MR OSBORNE: I cannot see the point, Mr Speaker.

Mr Stanhope: Well, let us look at tomorrow's Hansard. If he had apologised we would not have moved the motion.

MR OSBORNE: He apologised.

Mr Stanhope: Now you are telling us he did. That is all we wanted.

MR OSBORNE: I heard him. I saw you. You looked at Mr Berry, Mr Berry looked at you, and you stood up.

Mr Stanhope: I did not hear him apologise.

MR OSBORNE: Well, he apologised. He said, "If I misled, I apologise". Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, that was the main thrust of the conversation. Mr Smyth came in and apologised. I remember it as I walked out. He said, "If I misled, I apologise". I just think this is a waste of time. Obviously the Labor Party does not want to get to the next motion.

Mr Stanhope: I take a point of order.

MR OSBORNE: I have finished, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker.

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