Page 4182 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 21 September 2011

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Dr Bourke: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Seselja has just made an unparliamentary remark suggesting that Ms Burch is going to incriminate herself.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, you may be able to assist me. I am afraid that in the kerfuffle that was going on I did not hear it.

Mr Seselja: I am happy to tell you exactly what I said, but I do not believe it is unparliamentary.

MR SPEAKER: If you could, that would be helpful.

Mr Seselja: You can rule on it. I said to Ms Burch, when she said that she would not be tabling the documents, “Is it because it might incriminate you?”

MR SPEAKER: Those being the words, at this stage, being in the form of a question, I find it hard to rule them as unparliamentary language.

Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, it was not part of the formal question; it was actually an interjection across the chamber.

MR SPEAKER: I realise that, Mr Hargreaves. I think it is framed in such a way that—

Ms Gallagher interjecting—

MR SPEAKER: Whilst members might find it not to their liking, I do not think it crosses the normal rules of unparliamentary language.

Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, there is a difference between saying across the chamber “in case they embarrass you” and suggesting that something will incriminate a member. That is quite a different matter.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you for your feedback, Mr Hargreaves. We will move to Ms Bresnan’s question.

MS BRESNAN: My question is to the Minister for Economic Development and is about affordable housing. Minister, yesterday you said that you did not accept the statement made by the Australians for Affordable Housing coalition that the ACT has the worst rates in the nation for low income households and housing stress. On what basis do you not accept the statement, and which of the coalition’s measures are incorrect?

MR BARR: As I have indicated in response to Ms Bresnan, asking very similar questions, there are a number of different measures of housing affordability. Whilst I acknowledge that this particular group has put forward a view, I do not accept it and I will continue to use the measure of affordability that the government has been using consistently.

MR SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan, a supplementary question.


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