Personal Explanation

Oakden Mental Health Facility

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:51): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

Ms COOK: I understand the emotion behind the grievance delivered by the member for Bright, but I would ask that he withdraw the allegation that I would laugh at matters around elder abuse. I find the whole subject of elder abuse quite sickening, and I would hate that it be on record that I would ever laugh at such a serious matter.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Bright, the member for Fisher has asked that you might reconsider the imputation that she feels was made during your contribution.

Mr SPEIRS (Bright) (15:52): On the matter raised by the member for Fisher, unfortunately, given the emotive content of my speech and the fact that she was laughing during it, I can only draw the conclusion that she was laughing at the content and sniggering at the content of the speech, which was elder abuse. It was symbolic of the casual attitude of the government towards elder abuse. So, I will not be withdrawing that comment.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: We are going to call for the Hansard of your contribution this afternoon. I will confer with the Speaker before I make a ruling on this. I will get back to you all later.