Ms CARNEY - 2003-06-18
You said in this House yesterday that the Police Commissioner brought to your attention the issue of a complaint from police that the Tourism Minister attempted to use his position as a member of government to pervert the course of justice by putting undue pressure on the police who were attempting to do their job. What is your response?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I absolutely refuse to answer that question because I did not say what the member said. I refuse to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: That is fine. I will reiterate what I just said. You shall not attribute directly or by innuendo to another member unbecoming behaviour or motives. All offensive references to a member’s private affairs and all personal reflections on a member shall be deemed highly disorderly.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I understand your comments in the reference to the standing order.
Madam SPEAKER: Good.
Mr BURKE: I simply say that, on this particular occasion, the opposition is aware of a police complaint against a member of the Legislative Assembly. We believe that it is right and proper to pursue the nature of that complaint to its conclusion by asking questions referring to that complaint properly in this House. That is all we are seeking to do. There is no allegation by us about the member’s behaviour; it is the fact that, from the police perspective, there is an issue that is unresolved. That is what we are trying to get to the bottom of.
Madam SPEAKER: I understand what you are saying, but we also have a standing order which refers to the manner in which the question is asked. That is what I pointed out to you.
Mr BURKE: I accept that.
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I absolutely refuse to answer that question because I did not say what the member said. I refuse to answer the question.
Madam SPEAKER: That is fine. I will reiterate what I just said. You shall not attribute directly or by innuendo to another member unbecoming behaviour or motives. All offensive references to a member’s private affairs and all personal reflections on a member shall be deemed highly disorderly.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I understand your comments in the reference to the standing order.
Madam SPEAKER: Good.
Mr BURKE: I simply say that, on this particular occasion, the opposition is aware of a police complaint against a member of the Legislative Assembly. We believe that it is right and proper to pursue the nature of that complaint to its conclusion by asking questions referring to that complaint properly in this House. That is all we are seeking to do. There is no allegation by us about the member’s behaviour; it is the fact that, from the police perspective, there is an issue that is unresolved. That is what we are trying to get to the bottom of.
Madam SPEAKER: I understand what you are saying, but we also have a standing order which refers to the manner in which the question is asked. That is what I pointed out to you.
Mr BURKE: I accept that.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016