The Honourable Duncan Gay Response to Notice of Motion

The Hon. TREVOR KHAN [5.27 p.m.]: Unfortunately, because of events, the matter I wanted to speak about this evening has been put aside. Today we have seen the continuation of a grubby and unsatisfactory attack upon the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. It is difficult to understand, firstly, why Government members would choose to attack the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and, secondly, why they attacked him today. We only have to pick away at the scabs on the surface to work out why. I ask the House to consider that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is currently engaged in a freedom of information request to Canterbury City Council relating to land dealings and corruption by, amongst others, members of the Australian Labor Party and which may involve a Government member of the House. One wonders whether that forms the basis for the attack on the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Further, I ask the House to consider who was involved in the attack today. One person involved is the Hon. Amanda Fazio, who previously has been described by the Hon. Melinda Pavey as the keeper of the keys, and who, in her work in Sussex Street, is known as the keeper of the dirt files.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Standing Order 91 (3) states that all imputations of improper motives and all personal reflections on members are disorderly. I did not intervene when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition spoke on this matter earlier. However, I caution the Hon. Trevor Khan to bear in mind my ruling as he proceeds and not contravene the standing orders.

The Hon. TREVOR KHAN: Another member who has been involved is Nathan Rees, former chief of staff to Milton Orkopoulos. I will return to that in a moment. The third member is David Campbell, who sought to repeat certain matters in the other place today. David Campbell, the member for Keira, has been named in matters that relate to Wollongong City Council. Perhaps it is not a coincidence.

The Hon. Greg Donnelly: Point of order: Mr President, in your intervention into this matter a moment ago you provided some direction and some overview as to the way in which you thought the honourable member should consider conducting the rest of his contribution, and when the clock recommenced, within a matter of seconds he is into it again, sullying the reputation of Ministers in the other House and talking about coincidences and related matters. It seems to me you made the decision, as President, to provide some framework on which he could continue the rest of his contribution. I thought the honourable member would understand that, but he immediately—

The Hon. Robyn Parker: How many words can you put in a point of order?

The Hon. Greg Donnelly: Let me finish. He immediately got into it again. I ask you to draw the honourable member back to your ruling and invite him to continue his presentation.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Trevor Khan may continue but I again remind him of the requirements of Standing Order 91 (3).

The Hon. TREVOR KHAN: Today is the day upon which certain matters are occurring in Newcastle. A young man by the name of Ben Blackburn, now 20, today made the following point, "I felt betrayed by the New South Wales Labor Party for protecting Milton politically". "Burn in hell, you grub", he muttered as he left the court. Mr Blackburn condemned the Australian Labor Party. "Milton was protected, to an extent, by the Australian Labor Party and those involved should hang their heads in shame", he said. There are certain people in the party who knew that the message was given to the Deputy Premier, John Watkins—

[Time for debate expired.]

Question—That this House do now adjourn—put and resolved in the affirmative.

Motion agreed to.


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