Pairing Arrangements

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Hon. Ben Hood on the topic of the Termination of Pregnancy (Terminations and Live Births) Amendment Bill under standing order 107.

Leave granted.

The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted, but I will remind the Hon. Ben Hood that he is under no obligation to answer any question, given he is not a minister of the Crown.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Last night in this chamber, we saw extraordinary scenes as a member of this place who had been granted medical leave and reached a pair agreement with another member had that agreement broken. In the lead-up to last night's vote, I had been approached by a few journalists who suggested that they understood that the numbers may fall in favour of the Hon. Ben Hood's private member's bill and that in fact another vote could be in play.

This theory did not accord with my understanding of the numbers in this place, as the views of members were well known to me. It is my understanding that the Hon. Jing Lee had agreed to pair with the Hon. Michelle Lensink for this vote but broke the agreement just moments before the vote on the second reading stage. My questions to the Hon. Ben Hood, therefore, are:

1. When did the Hon. Ben Hood become aware of the decision of the Hon. Jing Lee not to honour the pairing agreement?

2. Did he have any discussions with people inside or outside of the parliament regarding this tactic?

3. Is he aware of people applying pressure to the Hon. Jing Lee and others not to honour the pairing agreement with the Hon. Michelle Lensink, and what are his views on this tactic?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Attorney, you might like to withdraw that.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: What?

The PRESIDENT: 'Coward'.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I withdraw, sir.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you.