Page 4064 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 2010

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Minister for Health

Statement by member

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra): I seek leave to make a brief statement.

MR SPEAKER: Sorry, Mrs Dunne, I cannot hear you.

MRS DUNNE: I seek leave to make a brief statement.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Are you seeking leave of the chamber or from—

MRS DUNNE: Yes. Well, from whomever it is appropriate to seek leave from. I think it is the chamber.

MR SPEAKER: Are you seeking a personal explanation under 46?

MRS DUNNE: No, I need to seek leave to make a brief statement.

MR SPEAKER: Is leave granted? I think leave has been denied, Mrs Dunne. Would you like to provide further explanation and to retest it?

MRS DUNNE: I would like to make a statement in relation to comments made in the debate last night.

MR SPEAKER: Is leave granted? Yes, I believe leave is granted.

Leave granted.

MRS DUNNE: Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the members of the Assembly. Last night in debate, Ms Gallagher made a number of comments in relation to my views as a Catholic, which I considered gratuitous and intemperate. They also reflect upon my right to adhere or not to adhere to a religious conviction. I would ask her to withdraw those comments and to apologise for making them.

MR SPEAKER: Ms Gallagher, do you wish to comment? I did not hear it.

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations): Mr Speaker, I will have a look at the Hansard before I withdraw them. I do not think those comments were offensive and, indeed, they were responding to Mrs Dunne’s comprehensive ideological attack on my own personal views—

Mr Coe: It is for her to determine whether they are offensive or not.

MS GALLAGHER: I think, if you read the entire debate—her comments about me and then my response to them—you will see them in context.

MR SPEAKER: From the Speaker’s point of view, I will have to review the Hansard.


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