Mr BAILEY - 1998-10-06
Many Territorians found themselves unable to vote ‘yes’ to the referendum question because they felt misled and confused about the statehood process. On 19 August, the Chief Minister quite clearly told Territorians who wanted statehood to vote ‘no’ if they did not support the draft constitution. On 9 September, he told Territorians that they were now only voting on whether they wanted statehood, and not on the Constitution. On 3 October, Territorians saw the Chief Minister’s badly worded referendum question, which again talked about the Constitution. Do you now understand that the confusion you created led to many, many Territorians voting ‘no’ on Saturday?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have stood in this Parliament and I have accepted full responsibility. What more can I say? I have said in all humility ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: What is the problem? Don’t you like me agreeing with you? Is this your problem?
Mr Bailey: Explain why you misled Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri, allow the Chief Minister to answer.
Mr STONE: I have stood in this parliament and I said with all humility, I got it wrong. I got it wrong.
Mr Bailey: No, you did not win. That is all you are saying, you got it wrong. Explain why you misled ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri.
Mr STONE: You do not like the answer, do you? I got it wrong. I say to Territorians I am sorry I left them behind in the pursuit of something that we were all trying to, and I say that I have to do it better next time.
Mr Bailey: Why did you tell them 2 stories?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wanguri.
Mr STONE: I cannot respond with the constant interjections. I have said what I was going to say.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have stood in this Parliament and I have accepted full responsibility. What more can I say? I have said in all humility ...
Members interjecting.
Mr STONE: What is the problem? Don’t you like me agreeing with you? Is this your problem?
Mr Bailey: Explain why you misled Territorians.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri, allow the Chief Minister to answer.
Mr STONE: I have stood in this parliament and I said with all humility, I got it wrong. I got it wrong.
Mr Bailey: No, you did not win. That is all you are saying, you got it wrong. Explain why you misled ...
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri.
Mr STONE: You do not like the answer, do you? I got it wrong. I say to Territorians I am sorry I left them behind in the pursuit of something that we were all trying to, and I say that I have to do it better next time.
Mr Bailey: Why did you tell them 2 stories?
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wanguri.
Mr STONE: I cannot respond with the constant interjections. I have said what I was going to say.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016