Ms MARTIN - 2000-02-24
On Monday the Chief Minister called the justice system ‘totally corrupt’. In an amateurish attempt to contain the fall-out, the Chief Minister and Attorney-General contacted the Chief Justice privately yesterday while a matter was before the courts. The Chief Minister again contacted the Chief Justice to, and I quote: ‘Apologise unreservedly for using the word “corrupt”’, and then went on to qualify it, which is not an unreserved apology. At the same time, the Chief Minister was in this House defending the use of the word ‘corrupt’ with references, among other things, to the words ‘butt’, ‘arse’ and ‘corrupt computer programs’. At the same time that the Chief Minister was supposedly unreservedly apologising to the Chief Justice, he was here in this Chamber doing the opposite. The Chief Minister and Attorney-General either misled this House or Chief Justice Martin. So I ask the Chief Minister, just who have you misled.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this matter, I understand, has been resolved. I haven’t seen the transcript of the court, but I will read that transcript with interest, as I always do when the Chief Justice has comment to make. It is good that the issue has been resolved from my point of view. With regards to the word ‘corrupt’, I have explained the use of that word for the last 3 days now. There are some in this House, on the other side of this House, and some sections of the legal community, who will never accept that explanation, but I have given it. I have apologised as an ordinary Territorian would do, and I am sure that ordinary Territorians would accept the apology and the terms in which that word was used.
I will say that, as Attorney-General, I will never stop speaking out on issues that I believe concern Territorians. I feel that’s part of my duty. With regards to my continuing role as Attorney-General, I can advise this House that I know, absolutely, that I have the utmost and absolute support of the Chief Justice, and with that support I will continue in my role as Attorney-General.
I did say yesterday that there are changes in use of the English language, and I gave the example of the way ‘gay’ has changed over the years. I would expand on the use of the word ‘bastard’, except the children from Driver Primary are here. But anyone can conjure up the many uses of that particular word, and it can mean a whole range of things. It was in that context that I used the word ‘corrupt’. I have explained the context in which I used it, and I only hope that fair-minded people accept that explanation.
In that context, it’s interesting to note that on 28 November 1997, when the new Speaker of this House, Loraine Braham at that time, was appointed to the position of Speaker – and I would remind honourable members, the highest position in this House, a position of some authority. At that time, the now Deputy Leader of the Opposition had this to say - well, this is a report of what he had to say, I haven’t got the Hansard, but it’s quoted here that he said:
The pomp and ceremony of Braitling MLA, Loraine Braham’s first day as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly was marred on Wednesday by a scathing attack from Labor. Nhulunbuy MLA, Syd Stirling, in an unprecedented attack, accused Mrs Braham of being corrupt and a liar.
I ask the member for Nhulunbuy now to explain to Territorians, to explain to this House, in detail what, using your own terminology, an absolute clear and narrow definition of the word ‘corrupt’, exactly he meant and tell me how you can stand in this House and make those accusations against the Speaker. If you are an honourable man, using your own definition, using the member for Nhulunbuy’s own definition of the word ‘corrupt’ which he has elaborated on in this House at length, explain to Territorians, explain to the media what basis he has for calling the former Speaker of this House, the member for Braitling, corrupt. And if he can’t do that he should walk out on the street with his leader standing next to him and offer an unreserved apology to the media, to the general public and to this House for calling Mrs Braham corrupt.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this matter, I understand, has been resolved. I haven’t seen the transcript of the court, but I will read that transcript with interest, as I always do when the Chief Justice has comment to make. It is good that the issue has been resolved from my point of view. With regards to the word ‘corrupt’, I have explained the use of that word for the last 3 days now. There are some in this House, on the other side of this House, and some sections of the legal community, who will never accept that explanation, but I have given it. I have apologised as an ordinary Territorian would do, and I am sure that ordinary Territorians would accept the apology and the terms in which that word was used.
I will say that, as Attorney-General, I will never stop speaking out on issues that I believe concern Territorians. I feel that’s part of my duty. With regards to my continuing role as Attorney-General, I can advise this House that I know, absolutely, that I have the utmost and absolute support of the Chief Justice, and with that support I will continue in my role as Attorney-General.
I did say yesterday that there are changes in use of the English language, and I gave the example of the way ‘gay’ has changed over the years. I would expand on the use of the word ‘bastard’, except the children from Driver Primary are here. But anyone can conjure up the many uses of that particular word, and it can mean a whole range of things. It was in that context that I used the word ‘corrupt’. I have explained the context in which I used it, and I only hope that fair-minded people accept that explanation.
In that context, it’s interesting to note that on 28 November 1997, when the new Speaker of this House, Loraine Braham at that time, was appointed to the position of Speaker – and I would remind honourable members, the highest position in this House, a position of some authority. At that time, the now Deputy Leader of the Opposition had this to say - well, this is a report of what he had to say, I haven’t got the Hansard, but it’s quoted here that he said:
The pomp and ceremony of Braitling MLA, Loraine Braham’s first day as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly was marred on Wednesday by a scathing attack from Labor. Nhulunbuy MLA, Syd Stirling, in an unprecedented attack, accused Mrs Braham of being corrupt and a liar.
I ask the member for Nhulunbuy now to explain to Territorians, to explain to this House, in detail what, using your own terminology, an absolute clear and narrow definition of the word ‘corrupt’, exactly he meant and tell me how you can stand in this House and make those accusations against the Speaker. If you are an honourable man, using your own definition, using the member for Nhulunbuy’s own definition of the word ‘corrupt’ which he has elaborated on in this House at length, explain to Territorians, explain to the media what basis he has for calling the former Speaker of this House, the member for Braitling, corrupt. And if he can’t do that he should walk out on the street with his leader standing next to him and offer an unreserved apology to the media, to the general public and to this House for calling Mrs Braham corrupt.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016