Page 299 - Week 01 - Thursday, 29 November 2012
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Ms Burch: We heard the words “being dishonest” thrown across that side of the room all morning this morning.
MADAM SPEAKER: Sit down, Ms Burch! Sit down. I was speaking. I made some comments yesterday and I asked people not to impugn people’s character and impugn people’s honesty and to keep that in mind when people are speaking in this place. I would just draw your attention to comments like, “I don’t hold any”—the words that you used that said that you did not particularly believe what Mr Doszpot said. They come very close to that and I think that all members—I think there have been other instances of that today—need to be very careful about impugning people’s character.
Mr Corbell: Madam Speaker, if I may, on your ruling or guidance.
MADAM SPEAKER: I did not make a ruling.
Mr Corbell: On your comments, if I may—
MADAM SPEAKER: On my comments, yes.
Mr Corbell: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We welcome your assurances in relation to the matter of impugning people’s character and I trust that this is a matter that you will observe across all members in this place.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, I would be very careful about impugning the impartiality of the chair as you did. Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Minister, can you confirm that 60 is in fact a number?
MS BURCH: It is a number, and if Mr Doszpot had some questions about that then perhaps he should go to one of the ACT schools. They have the highest rating of literacy and numeracy in the nation.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Gentleman, a supplementary question.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, can you advise us of the educational benefits of the new CIT campus in Tuggeranong for my constituents in Brindabella?
MADAM SPEAKER: The supplementary is out of order; it does not relate in any way to the original question or matters which have arisen in answer to the question. A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, how do you expect teachers in ACT schools to respect you as a minister for education when you have such a poor understanding of mathematics?
Mr Corbell: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I ask you to rule on whether there was any imputation on Ms Burch in terms of her capability or some other suggestion that she in some way does not know that 60 is a number. This is an imputation or, at the very best, perhaps, an ironical expression, Madam Speaker, and I would ask you to rule on it.
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