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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 2013 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

The consistent pattern emerges here that I talked about yesterday. Two days later, after he had been caught out, the Minister admitted that, whilst the racist excuse was wrong - - -

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Standing order 117(b)(iv) requires that questions shall not contain imputations or inferences. The question that Mr Berry asked did contain such an inference. He made reference to an untrue statement, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. Ask your question, Mr Berry, and let us not have the rhetoric.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, the Minister apologised for getting caught out, but did not apologise for the vilification caused by his claims. In fact, he admitted that he had known how wrong - - -

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. Mr Berry is just continuing his question. The standing orders are quite clear about this.

MR SPEAKER: All right. I will rule it out of order.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, why did you rule it out of order? I would like to speak to the point of order.

MR SPEAKER: Ask your question, please, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Carnell: Without the imputation.

Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: He has asked a question with an imputation. That makes the question out of order and he misses out on his question.

MR SPEAKER: Exactly. I am trying to help you, Mr Berry.

MR BERRY: No, no. Will the Minister advise the Assembly why, immediately he found out he was wrong, he did not issue an apology for setting back the cause of reconciliation in the Territory by making his ill-considered claims?

Mr Humphries: I am sorry, Mr Speaker, I have to press my point of order. That was simply a continuation of the earlier question and the imputation was there.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, I agree, there is an inference there.

MR BERRY: No.

MR SPEAKER: There is; there is an imputation.

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