Members

Member for Chaffey, Naming

The SPEAKER (14:46): I name the member for Chaffey. The Leader of Government Business.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:46): Are you going to apologise?

Mr WHETSTONE: Sounds like I hit a nerve, sir. I apologise.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I name the member for Chaffey for a second time.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I move that his service in the house be excluded for two sitting days. I move:

That the apology not be accepted.

The SPEAKER: I will put the question first whether the apology is accepted or not.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It has not been accepted, sir.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Leader of Government Business.

Members interjecting:

Mr TEAGUE: Point of order, sir, on the motion.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader.

Mr TEAGUE: Thank you for the call, sir. I just indicate the objective circumstances in which the member has immediately returned and taken the opportunity to apologise to you, sir, and I ask you to take that into consideration in terms of the acceptance of the apology.

I note as well, just for completeness, there has been reference to a period of time. It's my understanding on consideration of standing order 139 just right now that, on a first occasion, a member is suspended for one day, on my reading of the relevant standing order.

The SPEAKER: I named the member for Chaffey a second time because of his second attack on me, and I won't stand for that. I know that he has been doing that for years in here to other members across the chamber, and he has made aspersions on how I deal with the people in my electorate, and they know—the wine growers and winemakers know—my fervent stance on this issue.

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner: It seems a good reason to name somebody?

The SPEAKER: Very good reason to name somebody. So we will put the first naming to the house. The Leader of Government Business has moved that the apology not be accepted. Is that seconded?

An honourable member: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: All those in favour say aye; those against say no.

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta can leave question time until the end of question time.

The honourable member for Morialta having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: The ayes have it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I didn't hear the call for division; there were people yelling out. There is a division called for. Ring the bells.

The house divided on the motion:

Ayes 24

Noes 9

Majority 15

AYES

NOES

PAIRS

Motion thus carried.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I move:

That the member be suspended from the service of the house for the remainder of the day.

Motion carried.

The SPEAKER: The question now is in respect of the second naming. I want to give the member for Chaffey the opportunity to apologise.

Mr WHETSTONE: Thank you, Speaker. I rise to apologise and give an explanation for my actions as I exited the chamber. Sir, as you would know, the Riverland region is seriously under economic pressure in the wine industry—

The SPEAKER: Point of order by the Leader of Government Business.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: This is not an apology, this is a debate. Apologise unreservedly to the house and the Speaker, that's it.

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader.

Mr TEAGUE: The member is entitled to be heard in explanation.

The SPEAKER: That was a speech and I was about to pull the member up. You can't come in here and make speeches when you have been named. So it is an apology, and it is a heartfelt apology, or it's nothing. The member for Chaffey.

Mr WHETSTONE: Thank you, sir. Again, I rise and unreservedly make an apology to you on behalf of my community.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I move:

That the apology be accepted.

Motion carried.

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey will leave parliament for the remainder of the day.

The honourable member for Chaffey having withdrawn from the chamber: