Tabled Documents

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): Supplementary.

The PRESIDENT: It is going to be challenging for me to rule on a supplementary question when I could barely hear any of the answer because of the loud interjections. Have a go at it, and I will see if I can allow it.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Does the Attorney believe members of parliament are unable to correct the record?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (14:22): No, that is a very good supplementary. I think members of parliament should correct the record, and if members of parliament have just made it up—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —they should say so.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: If they just made it up, they should get up and say, 'Look, I made it up. I had no idea what I was talking about, and I just made it up.' If that's what they have done they should absolutely get up there and do that. It is fundamental that they do that.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It is fundamental that they do that. So, yes, I completely agree: if members of parliament have just made it up they should correct the record. The alternative is that—here's what else they could do—when they are held to account they could duck and weave. They could hide in their room. They could be nowhere to be found. They could refuse to give an interview. So, yes, there are very different options that you can do.