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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1797 ..

MR QUINLAN: You do not know what is relevant in this place half the time, Mr Pratt. What I suspect here, Mr Speaker, unfortunately ain't about fairness, ain't about precedent, ain't about process; it is a lot about "I told you so"and it is a lot about malice on the part of the opposition, which is saying, "We told you so. We wanted you to do it that way. Now we have found a way to cause-

Mr Pratt: You're an arrogant goat, Quinlan. You're an arrogant goat, Quinlan.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Quinlan has the floor.

MR QUINLAN: Mr Speaker, I think I was called an arrogant goat.

MR SPEAKER: You know that that is unparliamentary. Withdraw it, please.

Mr Pratt: Mr Speaker, it is absolutely right that I called him an arrogant goat and I withdraw that comment unreservedly.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

MR QUINLAN: Is it absolutely wrong or absolutely right?

Mr Pratt: Carry on, Mr Quinlan. Justify your paltry case.

MR QUINLAN: Thank you, Mr Pratt. Mr Smyth stood in this place and, as the major focus of his speech, said, "We told you to do it in a different way. Now we can cause trouble. Now we can expose those people to possible trouble and we'll do it for that sake."That is what I am hearing from you. I understand what Ms Tucker said. She wants to read them, and I accept that. But for you, Mr Smyth, there was nothing in your speech but malice.

MR SMYTH (Leader of the Opposition) (9.12): I seek leave to speak again, Mr Speaker.

Leave granted.

MR SMYTH: I thank members for the concession. Mr Quinlan has not made a case as to why these documents should attract privilege. If there is a reason for them to have privilege above other documents that will be going before the McLeod inquiry, let us hear it. If there is a reason for them to have privilege, I am sure that members would consider granting that request. Instead of that, we have had documents, not given to members of the Assembly, the representatives of the community, but given to the press first under embargo.

Mr Cornwell: I beg your pardon? The press, the media!

MR SMYTH: Given to the press first under embargo so that they can digest them before members can. Then we have had the government come in here and say, "We want this to happen because we're the government."That is being arrogant. You just do not come in

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