9348 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday 31 October 2000 ______ Mr Speaker (The Hon. John Henry Murray) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR FAIRFIELD SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION Personal Explanation Mr SPEAKER: I call the member for Fairfield. Mr TRIPODI (Fairfield) [2.17 p.m.]: Mr Speaker— Mr Hartcher: Mr Speaker, on what basis has the honourable member for Fairfield been given the call? Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Fairfield has the call. Mr TRIPODI: I rise to make a personal explanation. Mr SPEAKER: Permission is granted. Mrs Chikarovski: Point of order: Is the honourable member for Fairfield seeking leave to make a personal explanation? Mr SPEAKER: Yes, he has. Leave has been granted. Mrs Chikarovski: No, hold on, Mr Speaker— Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. Mrs Chikarovski: Mr Speaker, we accepted— Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. Mrs Chikarovski: —on the understanding— Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. Mrs Chikarovski: Mr Speaker— Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume her seat. Mr Hartcher: No, Mr Speaker— Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Gosford will resume his seat. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Gosford will resume his seat. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! For the third time, the honourable member for Gosford will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition has asked whether the member for Fairfield has leave to make a personal explanation. He has asked for that leave; I have granted that to him. The honourable member for Fairfield has the call. 31 October 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 9349 Mr TRIPODI: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to make a personal explanation. As an elected representative I am accountable to the public and to my electorate through this Parliament. That is why I have waited until now to make this statement. On 20 October I asked my solicitor to make inquiries on my behalf. I did so following publication of a newspaper report and in the knowledge that I was the subject of rumours in relation to that report. I requested my solicitor contact the police and offer my assistance in any way required. My solicitor contacted Eastwood police station and spoke to Inspector Craig Atwill. The inspector reported that a statement had been made on 18 September in relation to events alleged to have occurred on the evening of 14 September. He confirmed that inquiries had been concluded on 29 September and that the matter was closed. On 22 October a newspaper reported that City Central detectives were also involved in the inquiries. My solicitor contacted City Central offering my assistance in any way possible. Detective Inspector Brett Cooper again confirmed that inquiries had been concluded. Another allegation appeared on 28 October in relation to staff of a suburban newspaper. My solicitor contacted the editors of these newspapers, who confirmed that the reports were completely false. I have at every occasion offered to co-operate and assist the police. These allegations, which are unsubstantiated, reflect directly upon my character. There are two sides to every story. I deny any suggestion that I have acted improperly or illegally. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders Mrs CHIKAROVSKI: I seek leave to move a motion for immediate debate: That the female person who has made allegations— Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the House will remain silent. The Leader of the Opposition wishes to move a motion. There is a time— Mr Hartcher: No, she is seeking leave— Mr SPEAKER: Order! I place the honourable member for Gosford on three calls to order. Mrs CHIKAROVSKI: I seek leave to suspend standing and sessional orders to move a motion— Leave not granted. Mr SPEAKER: Order! I place the honourable member for Wakehurst, who tends to want to sit in the chair most of the time, on three calls to order. Mr HARTCHER: Mr Speaker, serious allegations have been made about you in that you sought to dissuade the victim of a sexual assault from proceeding with her complaint. Until this matter is resolved, the Opposition believes that you should not preside over this Chamber. I therefore seek leave to move a motion as follows: That Mr Speaker do now vacate the chair and the Deputy-Speaker act in his stead until the House otherwise determines. Leave not granted. Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Gosford will resume his seat. ASSENT TO BILL Assent to the following bill reported: Administrative Decisions Tribunal Legislation Amendment (Revenue) Bill. COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND THE POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION Membership Mr SPEAKER: I report the receipt of the following message from the Legislative Council: Mr SPEAKER The Legislative Council desires to inform the Legislative Assembly that it has this day agreed to the following resolution: That Miss Gardiner be discharged from the Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and the Police Integrity Commission and that Mr Colless be appointed as a Member of such committee. Legislative Council MEREDITH BURGMANN 13 October 2000 President 9350 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 31 October 2000 INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Report Mr Speaker announced, pursuant to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988, the receipt of the report entitled "1999-2000 Annual Report". OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN Report Mr Speaker announced, pursuant to the Ombudsman Act 1974 and the Law Enforcement (Controlled Operations) Act 1997,s the receipt of the report entitled "Annual Report 1999/2000—Law Enforcement (Controlled Operations) Act", dated September 2000. POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION Report Mr Speaker announced, pursuant to the Police Integrity Commission Act 1996, the receipt of the report entitled "Report to Parliament—Operation Belfast," dated October 2000. COMMITTEE ON THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION Report The Clerk announced the receipt of the report entitled "Consideration of Proposed Powers", dated 19 October 2000, together with submissions received by the committee. JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE UPON ROAD SAFETY Report The Clerk announced the receipt of the report entitled "Review of the Road Safety Situation in New South Wales in 1998", dated September 2000. PETITIONS State Taxes Petitions praying that the Carr Government establish a public inquiry into State taxes, with the objective of reducing the tax burden and creating a sustainable environment for employment and investment in New South Wales, received from Mr Debnam, Ms Hodgkinson and Mr Maguire. Malabar Policing Petition praying that the House note the concern of Malabar residents at the closure of Malabar Police Station and praying that the station be reopened and staffed by locally based and led police, received from Mr Tink. Engadine Police Station Downgrading Petition praying that any downgrading of Engadine Police Station be opposed and praying that the station be staffed 24 hours a day by locally based and led police, received from Mr Tink. Wentworth Shire Physiotherapy Service Petition praying that a physiotherapy service be established in the Wentworth shire, received from Mr Black. 31 October 2000 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 9351 Coffs Harbour Health Services Funding Petition praying for increased funding for health services in the Coffs Harbour area and a reduction in surgery waiting lists, received from Mr Fraser. Wallsend After Hours Primary Care Service Petition praying that assistance be provided to enable the continuation of after hours primary care services to residents of Wallsend and surrounding districts, received from Mr Mills. Macksville Hospital Funding Petition praying that sufficient recurrent funding be allocated to Macksville and District Hospital to enable restoration of hospital services to the level that existed prior to cutbacks instituted by the Mid North Coast Area Health Service, received from Mr Stoner. Non-government Schools Funding Petitions praying that the Government reimburse the $5 million in funding that has been withdrawn from non-government schools and reverse its decision to withdraw a further $13.5 million in funding in 2001, received from Mr O'Farrell and Mr E. T. Page. Yass Public School Special Support Unit Petition praying that the Government reverse its decision to close the special support unit at Yass Public School and that it guarantee the continued existence of the unit to permit educational security for students, parents and staff, received from Ms Hodgkinson. Queanbeyan Preschool Services Petition praying that funds be made available to construct a new and permanent preschool in Queanbeyan, received from Mr Webb. North Parramatta Bus Services Petition opposing the proposed changes to Sydney Buses route 546, Bettington Road loop, and praying that existing services be retained, received from Ms Harrison. Windsor Road Upgrading Petitions praying that Windsor Road be upgraded and widened within the next two financial years, received from Mr Richardson and Mr Rozzoli. Warrell Creek Pacific Highway Realignment Petition opposing the Roads and Traffic Authority's design and access arrangements for the realignment of the Pacific Highway at Warrell Creek and praying that the House rejects the authority's proposal and provides proper access to nearby properties, received from Mr Stoner. Kempsey and Macksville Pacific Highway Upgrade Petition praying that the House improve safety on the Pacific Highway and fast-track