Page 4750 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019

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Mrs Jones: To say “settle down” to one of the women MPs?

MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Jones, I believe that it was not unparliamentary. It may not be particularly good language, but I do not believe that it is unparliamentary. It is a timely reminder for everyone, as we come close to the end of this year, to be very mindful of having regard and respect for us all.

MR RATTENBURY: For the sake of the members of the opposition, I will be absolutely clear: there was no gender content in that statement. I was responding to the fact that after three seconds of being on my feet, I was being interjected on. I do not care who interjects on me. It was rude either way.

Mrs Jones: Madam Speaker, a point of order. On the matter of the interjection, as I have mentioned, I will be very happy to apologise for it but what I am talking about is a woman being told to settle down because she has an opinion that is different from someone else here. The member can claim that it does not have a gender bias but I interpret that it does and, therefore, it does.

MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Jones, we have dealt with that.

Mrs Jones: That is the logic—

MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Jones, we have had enough. We are not debating this now. Mr Rattenbury.

MR RATTENBURY: For the benefit of Mrs Jones, I will be absolutely clear that I did not seek to reflect on her gender. But if she took it that way, I do apologise. I have forgotten what the question was so I am just going to sit down.

MRS JONES: Minister, why are female prisoners unlikely to receive the emotional and psychological support they need in the journey towards rehabilitation?

MR RATTENBURY: I now remember the first question I was trying to answer, Mrs Jones. I have been assured by a range of people within my directorate that women do receive the same services, but I acknowledge—

Opposition member interjecting

MR RATTENBURY: That is exactly what I was going to say before I was interjected on before. I acknowledge that the Inspector of Correctional Services has made a different finding. My job now is to get to the bottom of why I am receiving different answers. That is the work that lies ahead of me.

Woden—CIT campus

MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for Tertiary Education. Can you please update the Assembly on the government’s plan to expand access to vocational education and training?


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