Mr VOWLES - 2014-03-20
You have persistently denied the member for Greatorex bullied and harassed the member for Namatjira, but last night you supported a motion to discipline the member for Greatorex for his unacceptable behaviour. Is that not an admission your original denial of the member for Namatjira being abused did not reflect what happened? What does this say about your honesty?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting when you hear these questions. The first answer I gave to the Leader of the Opposition was about our plans. The second answer I gave to the member for Daly was about our plans for the gas industry, fracking and addressing community concerns, but there have been two questions about internal matters, looking at us rather than looking at themselves. Perhaps they could spend some time developing policy for themselves. Let us have a look at bullying, member for Johnston. We all understand bullying. We passed a motion last night that no one supports bullying, especially around women, but we do not support bullying of any form, against anybody, in parliament, the public service or the broader community. I will give some examples of bullying. There is an Independent candidate running for the seat of Blain by the name of Mr Cranitch, who has accused the Leader of the Opposition of bullying him against running as a candidate in Blain.
The accusation of bullying by the AEU official, who is running as a political candidate against the Leader of the Opposition, has gone unanswered. I wonder why the Leader of the Opposition will not respond to the bullying campaign. Yesterday, there was a claim in the NT News from Mr Cranitch, complaining your electoral officer was allegedly cyber bullying him. I have not seen you come into his Chamber and make a response to the claim.
If you want to talk about bad behaviour, bullying, and poor performance, let us have a look at what happened last year in this Chamber. In 2013, Labor members were thrown out of parliament 10 times for bad behaviour. If you start talking about bullying and bad behaviour, you have to ask what is going on.
In 2014 we have had only have nine days of sittings, including today. Already, Labor members have been thrown out of the Chamber three times for bad behaviour. I am pretty sure the Leader of the Opposition was thrown out of parliament for 24 hours, which was the first time in 11 years. When you talk about bad behaviour and bullying, you have to ask why they do not reflect on themselves about it ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Last night, the Chief Minister voted to discipline the member for Greatorex. What form has the discipline taken?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The member for Greatorex has been disciplined. He offered an apology and I have accepted it.
In 2012, on Wednesday, 28 November, the Leader of the Opposition called the Deputy Speaker, the member for Daly, a ‘grub’ while he was chairing a committee. Talk about a reflection on the Chair in this parliament! That is disgraceful behaviour. If you want to have a look at bullying and bad behaviour, have a look at the way you operate, come up with some policies, re-join your divided collective of eight, and see if you can come up with better initiatives and policies for the future of the Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it is interesting when you hear these questions. The first answer I gave to the Leader of the Opposition was about our plans. The second answer I gave to the member for Daly was about our plans for the gas industry, fracking and addressing community concerns, but there have been two questions about internal matters, looking at us rather than looking at themselves. Perhaps they could spend some time developing policy for themselves. Let us have a look at bullying, member for Johnston. We all understand bullying. We passed a motion last night that no one supports bullying, especially around women, but we do not support bullying of any form, against anybody, in parliament, the public service or the broader community. I will give some examples of bullying. There is an Independent candidate running for the seat of Blain by the name of Mr Cranitch, who has accused the Leader of the Opposition of bullying him against running as a candidate in Blain.
The accusation of bullying by the AEU official, who is running as a political candidate against the Leader of the Opposition, has gone unanswered. I wonder why the Leader of the Opposition will not respond to the bullying campaign. Yesterday, there was a claim in the NT News from Mr Cranitch, complaining your electoral officer was allegedly cyber bullying him. I have not seen you come into his Chamber and make a response to the claim.
If you want to talk about bad behaviour, bullying, and poor performance, let us have a look at what happened last year in this Chamber. In 2013, Labor members were thrown out of parliament 10 times for bad behaviour. If you start talking about bullying and bad behaviour, you have to ask what is going on.
In 2014 we have had only have nine days of sittings, including today. Already, Labor members have been thrown out of the Chamber three times for bad behaviour. I am pretty sure the Leader of the Opposition was thrown out of parliament for 24 hours, which was the first time in 11 years. When you talk about bad behaviour and bullying, you have to ask why they do not reflect on themselves about it ...
Mr GUNNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 113: relevance. Last night, the Chief Minister voted to discipline the member for Greatorex. What form has the discipline taken?
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The member for Greatorex has been disciplined. He offered an apology and I have accepted it.
In 2012, on Wednesday, 28 November, the Leader of the Opposition called the Deputy Speaker, the member for Daly, a ‘grub’ while he was chairing a committee. Talk about a reflection on the Chair in this parliament! That is disgraceful behaviour. If you want to have a look at bullying and bad behaviour, have a look at the way you operate, come up with some policies, re-join your divided collective of eight, and see if you can come up with better initiatives and policies for the future of the Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016