Personal Explanation

EASLING, MR T.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:39): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: During question time, in response to the member for Davenport, I remarked that I had not heard the member for Davenport make reference to six of the verdicts of acquittal in the Easling case being majority verdicts. I have now found in Hansard—amidst his 12 speeches and questions on the Easling matter—that, in his Address in Reply on 11 September 2008, the member for Davenport said:

I am sure that the Attorney will tell members that there were 20 counts: two counts were acquitted under instruction of the judge; 12 counts were acquitted unanimously; and six counts were acquitted by majority.

I therefore apologise to the member for Davenport and correct the record: in his 12 speeches and questions he has once mentioned, through the per medium of attributing it to me, 'The Attorney would say that there were six majority verdicts.'