Page 937 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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behind the teacher’s back until finally that person retaliates; then they run to the teacher and say, “Such and such just hit me, ma’am, it’s not fair.”
This is Mr Hanson’s style of conduct in this chamber. To have him walk in here today and say he felt threatened by Mr Barr in what he himself would describe as a robust exchange in this chamber reflects poorly on him. Equally, Mr Barr’s comments were clearly not appropriate with respect to both the position that he holds and the rules under the standing orders. That is the challenge that we find ourselves facing. I note that the Chief Minister has withdrawn those statements, and I welcome that he has reflected and has done that. But we are, as I tested earlier, still required to progress this motion.
I am proposing to move an amendment. Given the hour and the fact that I have not circulated this, I will test with members how they would like to proceed. I will circulate the amendment as soon as I practically can, but obviously members will not have seen it. It does seem that Mr Barr wants to continue to prosecute this matter and that he remains dissatisfied with the outcomes through the committee process and the inability for him to pursue the matters that he has sought to pursue.
On that basis I am proposing to amend the privileges referral so that we also insert, after the words “November 2017”, “as well as issues relating to the conduct of the chair, and the ability to resolve disputes in the committee process, and any other relevant matters”.
If both members want to double down on the questions that are before us today then we will have a privileges committee and we will open it up to all of the matters that both members want to discuss, and we can find a forum outside this chamber to continue that conversation. I move the following amendment:
In paragraph (1), omit all words after “November 2017”, substitute “as well as issues relating to the conduct of the Chair, and the ability to resolve disputes in the committee process, and any other relevant matters.”.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (12.03): While I appreciate Mr Rattenbury’s intent, in terms of broadening the issues, I do remain offended by the imputation in Mr Hanson’s line of questioning. That is a fact. I have asked for a withdrawal, just as I have withdrawn my comments. I think that would be the end of that matter. But I am not going to get a withdrawal. Such is life; I am happy to let that lie. I do not wish to pursue a withdrawal from Mr Hanson any further than I have this morning, in asking him to do so. He is not going to; clearly that is the end of the matter.
The remaining issues of substance in this debate that Ms Le Couteur touched on, as did Mr Rattenbury in his remarks, relate to the review of standing orders. The standing orders are entirely silent when it comes to committee hearings. In this place, if a member wishes to dissent from the ruling of the Speaker, they can do so by way of a formal motion. If that formal motion is upheld, it then falls to the Speaker to
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