Mrs HICKEY - 1996-11-28
Has he had the opportunity to review the opposition's Independent Electoral Commission Bill, and will he concede that the cost of creating an independent electoral commission would be minor? I am sure he has looked at this in the past.
ANSWER
What bill, Mr Speaker?
Mrs Hickey: The one I introduced yesterday.
Mr STONE: The one that you gave notice of? You have not even made a second-reading speech You have not even introduced it, so how would I know what is in it?
Mrs Hickey: Have you looked at it in the past?
Mr STONE: How could I look at it? You have not produced it.
Mrs Hickey: The issue.
Mr STONE: You are so incompetent.
Mrs Hickey: The issue of an independent electoral ...
Mr STONE: So that people listening to this broadcast understand, Mr Speaker, let me say that, when a member wants to introduce legislation, they state in this Chamber: `I give notice that, on the next sitting day, I will introduce a bill on such-and-such'. The Leader of the Opposition did that yesterday, but she has never actually produced the bill. For her to rise and ask me for my views on a bill that I have never seen, that I did not even know existed, is absolutely absurd.
While I am on my feet, let me respond to an earlier question that was asked of me by the Leader of the
Opposition in relation to whether there is an ongoing policy inquiry. I have been advised that the Leader of the
Opposition volunteered 2 further names on Friday night to the police. As a result of the normal police procedures,
they felt obliged to make inquiries of those
Page 1864 2 additional Territorians who were named by the Leader of the Opposition. I was further advised a short time ago that those 2 people took the matter no further.
There is no continuing police inquiry, contrary to what the Leader of the Opposition was telling Territorians in this public broadcast time. Once again, it was another half-truth. It was another `dress it up and try to make it something it is not' attempt. With all police inquiries, although files are closed, if there is any additional information that is brought to the attention of police, they will pursue those matters. That is part of their duty, and they are doing their duty.
Page 1865
ANSWER
What bill, Mr Speaker?
Mrs Hickey: The one I introduced yesterday.
Mr STONE: The one that you gave notice of? You have not even made a second-reading speech You have not even introduced it, so how would I know what is in it?
Mrs Hickey: Have you looked at it in the past?
Mr STONE: How could I look at it? You have not produced it.
Mrs Hickey: The issue.
Mr STONE: You are so incompetent.
Mrs Hickey: The issue of an independent electoral ...
Mr STONE: So that people listening to this broadcast understand, Mr Speaker, let me say that, when a member wants to introduce legislation, they state in this Chamber: `I give notice that, on the next sitting day, I will introduce a bill on such-and-such'. The Leader of the Opposition did that yesterday, but she has never actually produced the bill. For her to rise and ask me for my views on a bill that I have never seen, that I did not even know existed, is absolutely absurd.
While I am on my feet, let me respond to an earlier question that was asked of me by the Leader of the
Opposition in relation to whether there is an ongoing policy inquiry. I have been advised that the Leader of the
Opposition volunteered 2 further names on Friday night to the police. As a result of the normal police procedures,
they felt obliged to make inquiries of those
Page 1864 2 additional Territorians who were named by the Leader of the Opposition. I was further advised a short time ago that those 2 people took the matter no further.
There is no continuing police inquiry, contrary to what the Leader of the Opposition was telling Territorians in this public broadcast time. Once again, it was another half-truth. It was another `dress it up and try to make it something it is not' attempt. With all police inquiries, although files are closed, if there is any additional information that is brought to the attention of police, they will pursue those matters. That is part of their duty, and they are doing their duty.
Page 1865
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016