Page 1561 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Personal explanation
MR HANSON (Molonglo), by leave: During question time today Mr Stanhope, Ms Gallagher and I think other members of the government were heckling from that side of the chamber, implying that I had received a letter from the archbishop prior to its being tabled today. To the extent that Mr Stanhope, when I denied that allegation, across the chamber called me a liar repeatedly and on a point of order then withdrew that and continued to gesticulate from that side of the chamber and mouthed the words “liar” at me, I am used to Mr Stanhope and Ms Gallagher’s behaviour in this place and—
Mr Corbell: On a point of order—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): Yes, Mr Corbell; I was just examining the standing orders.
Mr Corbell: I assume this is a personal explanation that is being given.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: It is.
Mr Corbell: He needs to indicate where he has been misrepresented in some way. He is not allowed to debate broader issues or pass commentary on other members. He needs to get to the point of the issue.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell.
MR HANSON: I will indeed—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, before you resume, can I remind you that you have to state early on how the misrepresentation has occurred—what it is. If you can proceed to that fairly quickly we can allow you to proceed.
MR HANSON: Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. The crux of this was that during my speech yesterday I referred to 88 years as the term of the lease because I believed we were looking at the archbishop’s letter—he has also used the term “88 years” in the term of the lease—and that that was the evidence that was used. I would just like to point to the legal advice that is available on the ACT Health website from the ACT Government Solicitor, addressed to Mr Cormack, the previous head of ACT Health, which talks about the term of that lease. It says, under “the Crown lease”:
A new lease was granted to Calvary on 16 November 1999 for a term of 99 years. Calvary is entitled to the grant of a further lease on the expiration of the current Crown lease.
Members interjecting—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Order, members! Two things, please. I just remind a couple of you that the Speaker has left me with a list of warnings. The convention in
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