Page 2553 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
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introductory and other speeches for bills incorporated into Hansard. The agreement between the parties then, and it has been again tonight, is that courtesy is given to the other side to see what is proposed to be incorporated into Hansard before it is incorporated.
There is a good reason for that. If someone just says, “Can you please incorporate this into Hansard?” and you say yes and then all of a sudden you see in the Hansard that the member has a go at everyone under the sun, makes personal attacks and makes unparliamentary comments, there is no possibility for reply. Earlier this evening—
Mr Mulcahy: New approach, Simon, new approach.
MR CORBELL: I am sorry, Mr Mulcahy, but I have been in this place since 1997. I have seen this in practice time and again under both Liberal and Labor governments. In marked contrast to Mr Mulcahy’s approach, Mr Stefaniak approached me earlier this evening and said, “Can we incorporate speeches into Hansard?” I said, “Yes. Do us the courtesy of showing us what is in it so that we do not get into the situation where members are attacked and there are political jibes.”
Mrs Burke: Was that before or after you decided to shut it down?
MR CORBELL: It was after, Mrs Burke. Mr Stefaniak came to me at about 11.00 pm this evening and asked whether he could incorporate his speeches into Hansard. I said, “Yes, but please do us the courtesy of showing us what is in them.” So he did and, guess what, we agreed that they should be incorporated into Hansard. That is the courtesy and that is the convention. But the government will not agree to incorporate into Hansard, sight-unseen, what Mr Mulcahy thinks should be in Hansard. Just do us the courtesy of showing us what you are proposing.
This is not about vetting it; it is about seeing what is in it so that if a government member is being unfairly attacked or other unparliamentary assertions are being made there is an opportunity for reply. It is not my problem if Mr Mulcahy does not know the forms of this place. It is not my problem if Mr Mulcahy does not have the wisdom of his leader to approach this in a sensible manner. We have given that courtesy to the leader because he knows the forms in this place.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR CORBELL: Mr Stefaniak knows the forms in this place. He accepted it and we were able to reach an acceptable outcome for all parties. That is all we are asking of Mr Mulcahy but, if he is not willing to do that, the government is not willing to agree to incorporate it in Hansard.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (12.09 am): While we are discussing this issue, I think it would also be fair to incorporate my speeches. We do not vet our speeches before we give them verbally, so I do not think that argument holds up, Mr Corbell. This debate was truncated without us knowing. If we had discussed this matter earlier today I am sure that all members could have sought permission to let government members read
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