Page 3421 - Week 09 - Thursday, 21 August 2008

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Standing orders—suspension

Motion (by Mr Corbell) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended so as to require a vote to be taken on the question—That the Bill be agreed to in principle.

Question put:

That the bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted:

Ayes 9

Noes 6

Mr Barr

Mr Gentleman

Mrs Burke

Mr Stefaniak

Mr Berry

Mr Hargreaves

Mrs Dunne

Mr Corbell

Ms MacDonald

Mr Mulcahy

Dr Foskey

Mr Stanhope

Mr Pratt

Ms Gallagher

Mr Smyth

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Detail stage

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

MR MULCAHY (Molonglo) (11.03): I would like to just speak briefly on this matter and particularly in relation to proposed new section 5 (1A). I sought advice from the Clerk, and that advice came back after the close of the debate. The reason I am seeking advice certainly goes to the genuineness of this initiative in that I believe that if one has a mind to support this sort of legislation, then I find it to be absolute, sheer hypocrisy to have a bill of this nature passed while the Speaker presides over an arrangement where the partner of a minister in the Stanhope government is employed by the Assembly.

I do not know how he can stand up in this place and lambast members who have raised concerns about the appropriateness of this bill and advocate this particular new section, which seeks to prohibit a member from employing a family member. Let me say I never have employed a family member in any capacity, and I have no intention to, so I approach this debate with clean hands.

Mr Stanhope: Well, I do not know about that.

MR MULCAHY: Well, I do know about that, Mr Assistant Speaker. I do not think he is fair dinkum on this matter. I do not think it is fair dinkum. I think it is political. For that reason, I think that if you were genuine about this matter, the coverage would be extended to everybody working in this place, especially those who ultimately come

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