Mr BAILEY - 1996-11-19
Has he, any member of his staff or any member of staff in the Department of the Chief Minister been interviewed by Northern Territory police regarding the breach of confidentiality involved with private electoral information on Territorians?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, there they go again - an unsubstantiated allegation that the member is trying to dress up as a question.
Mr Bailey: It is a question. This is called Question Time. We are asking questions.
Mr STONE: No, you ended it with a statement of fact, as though this had occurred and somehow there was some wrongdoing. I take you again to the AEC letter. This letter from the Electoral Commissioner himself, Bill Gray, states: `The AEC does not accuse either you, your officers or anyone else of any illegality under Commonwealth or Northern Territory law. Nor does the AEC attempt to implicate any person in any wrongdoing'. Further ...
Mr Bailey: The question was, had you or your staff ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: I listened in silence while you asked your question.
Mr Bailey: That has nothing to do with it.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Why not do me the courtesy of letting me answer it?
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Mr Bailey: As long as you do answer it.
Mr Stirling: Answer the question.
Mr STONE: There they go again!
The letter said: `... I can advise that contact was made with both the NT News and The Australian to ensure that they did not continue to misrepresent the content of the AEC statement'. You are doing exactly the sort of thing that Bill Gray has accused The Australian and the NT News of doing. He makes it very clear that he makes no allegations of any wrongdoing against any officer of the department.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is on his feet attempting to answer a question. You will remain silent.
Mr STONE: It is hardly a good example for the students who are present today, Mr Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bell: You are really dragging it out of the bottom of the barrel today.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for MacDonnell is on a warning.
Mr STONE: As to who has or has not been interviewed, how would I know?
Mr Bell: You made no inquiries ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! You are treading on very dangerous ground.
Mr STONE: I have finished my answer, Mr Speaker.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, there they go again - an unsubstantiated allegation that the member is trying to dress up as a question.
Mr Bailey: It is a question. This is called Question Time. We are asking questions.
Mr STONE: No, you ended it with a statement of fact, as though this had occurred and somehow there was some wrongdoing. I take you again to the AEC letter. This letter from the Electoral Commissioner himself, Bill Gray, states: `The AEC does not accuse either you, your officers or anyone else of any illegality under Commonwealth or Northern Territory law. Nor does the AEC attempt to implicate any person in any wrongdoing'. Further ...
Mr Bailey: The question was, had you or your staff ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: I listened in silence while you asked your question.
Mr Bailey: That has nothing to do with it.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr STONE: Why not do me the courtesy of letting me answer it?
Page 1764
Mr Bailey: As long as you do answer it.
Mr Stirling: Answer the question.
Mr STONE: There they go again!
The letter said: `... I can advise that contact was made with both the NT News and The Australian to ensure that they did not continue to misrepresent the content of the AEC statement'. You are doing exactly the sort of thing that Bill Gray has accused The Australian and the NT News of doing. He makes it very clear that he makes no allegations of any wrongdoing against any officer of the department.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is on his feet attempting to answer a question. You will remain silent.
Mr STONE: It is hardly a good example for the students who are present today, Mr Speaker.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Bell: You are really dragging it out of the bottom of the barrel today.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member for MacDonnell is on a warning.
Mr STONE: As to who has or has not been interviewed, how would I know?
Mr Bell: You made no inquiries ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! You are treading on very dangerous ground.
Mr STONE: I have finished my answer, Mr Speaker.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016