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Legislative
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| Sandra Kanck Deputy Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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Legislative
Council |
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| Sandra Kanck Deputy Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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MEMBER'S REMARKS
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make a personal explanation.
The PRESIDENT: Have you been misrepresented?
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Yes, I have.
Leave granted.
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: On 21 October 1999 the Treasurer made a ministerial statement in this chamber in respect of a media release that I had issued earlier that day. At the time, the Treasurer indicated that he intended to make further comment-and I have been waiting for that to happen-but as a calendar month has elapsed without any further comment I will take this opportunity to address the Treasurer's statement. The Treasurer's concerns were twofold. First, he took exception to the use of my phrase and the headline of my media release that he had been `caught with his pants down'. I confess that I was a little surprised at the Treasurer's objection to my use of that phrase.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I thought that as a former Minister for Education he might have recognised and indeed appreciated a metaphor when he saw one. I certainly never expected my words to be taken quite so literally. The Treasurer claimed that if the situation had been reversed this might have attracted charges of sexism, and I assume he was pointing that at me. I want to make it clear that I believe that what is good for the goose is good for the gander and that if indeed such a statement had been attached to me I would not have been offended. Nevertheless-
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable member will be heard in silence.
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: Nevertheless, as the Treasurer was offended, I unreservedly apologise for any hurt that I might have caused him by using that particular phrase.
The Hon. L.H. Davis: He was very sensitive about it.
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I noticed that. The second component of the Treasurer's complaint about my statement is without foundation. The Treasurer claimed that my inclusion of the interest paid by the electricity businesses to Treasury as income to the state is misleading. He stated that the interest goes to the banks and financial institutions and, hence, cannot be classified as income to the Treasury. However, in attacking me, he left unsaid the fact that back in the financial year 1996-97 the state government transferred $ 450 million-
The Hon. A.J. REDFORD: I rise on a point of order, Mr President. This is not a personal explanation. The honourable member is debating-
An honourable member interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
The Hon. A.J. REDFORD: -a substantive issue. It is not suggested that-
The PRESIDENT: Order! To which standing order are you referring?
The Hon. A.J. REDFORD: I am saying that debating the issue is not the subject of a personal explanation.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I ask the Hon. Sandra Kanck to put her points for and against without debating the issue.
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: During his ministerial statement, the Treasurer cast some doubts on my capacity to be able to make statements about economic and financial issues. Therefore, it is important that the statements that I made in my media release which he attacked are clarified so that the Treasurer understands what I said. Back in 1996-97, the state government transferred $ 450 million of non-commercial sector debt to the electricity industry-
The Hon. A.J. REDFORD: I rise on a point of order, Mr President.
The Hon. L.H. Davis interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order! Well, maybe you would. I ask the Hon. Angus Redford to put his point of order.
The Hon. A.J. REDFORD: Standing order 173 provides, first, that a member may explain matters of a personal nature-this does not fall within that category-and, secondly, standing order 175-
The PRESIDENT: Order! That's your opinion.
Members interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order!
An honourable member interjecting:
The Hon. A.J. REDFORD: Well, let me put my point of order.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Put your point of order without stating an opinion.
The Hon. A.J. REDFORD: Well, I am, Mr President. Standing order 175 provides:
. . . may again be heard, to explain himself in regard to some material part of his speech on which he has been misquoted or misunderstood. . .
It says nothing about debating something that someone might have said earlier.
The PRESIDENT: Order! No-one has referred to the correct standing order. Standing order 173 provides:
By the leave of the Council, a member may explain matters of a personal nature although there be no question before the Council; but such matters may not be debated.
I ask the honourable member to say where she disagrees with the statement made by another member. That is all she can do in a personal explanation. The honourable member cannot debate the matter.
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: The point which I was trying to make and on which obviously I cannot elaborate is that the Treasurer said in his ministerial statement that basically I erred by including interest in the calculations that I set out in my media release. Therefore, I cannot explain why it would appear that he has got it wrong. I guess that, under these circumstances, the misrepresentation that he made in his ministerial statement remains on the record.
