Page 3031 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010

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Thursday, 1 July 2010

The Assembly met at 10 am.

(Quorum formed.)

MR SPEAKER (Mr Rattenbury) took the chair and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

Personal explanation

MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation under standing order 46 relating to events of last evening.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.

MR HARGREAVES: Last evening, I made a ruling that a division would be called after a vote. Mrs Dunne rose to her feet and took umbrage and accused me, in effect, in my words, of denigrating the position of the chair, to which I took great offence. I have had a look at and a reflection on what was the case. I would like to put on the record what was the truth, not what was the interpretation that Mrs Dunne put on it in her point of order taken.

What occurred was that a vote was called and I said, “Those in favour say ‘aye’” and an aye was registered, those to the contrary said no. I made a ruling, and then I said: “I think the noes have it. No, I don’t believe that’s so. Division called.”

That comment of mine, which is “No, I don’t believe so”, reflected the fact that both sides of the chamber indicated that the noes have it and the ayes have it and that a division should have been called. What I was saying—in the sense that I said, “I don’t think so”—was a reflection on my error in not calling the division in the first place. Instead of saying, “I think the noes have it,” I should have said, “A division is called; please ring the bells.”

I take great exception to Mrs Dunne’s instantly jumping to her feet. Yet again we have seen somebody being precipitate and getting it wrong. We have seen somebody being denigratory and getting it wrong. I just think that an apology on the part of Mrs Dunne may very well be appropriate.

Health—cancer treatment

Statement by minister

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations), by leave: I would like to thank Mr Rattenbury for his letter dated 19 March 2010 regarding the Legislative Assembly’s resolution on cancer services at the Canberra Hospital. The Assembly asked for a report back on the issues raised in this resolution by 30 June 2010.


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