Drunken talks spark parliamentary row

A Country Liberal Party (CLP) member has warned his Northern Territory parliamentary colleagues they risk damaging their reputation by constantly accusing each other of drunkenness.

But his speech led to even more venomous debate.

Opposition whip John Elferink clearly breached parliamentary rules when he started by asking hypothetically whether the Labor Member for Sanderson Len Kiely had been drinking.

Over Mr Kiely's objections he withdrew the question but remained incensed as he listed a number of incidents where government members had implied their opponents were drunk.

He pointed to earlier in the night when during a heated exchange with the CLP Member for Araluen Jodeen Carney, Mr Kiely had interjected saying, "that was some glass of chardonnay".

Mr Elferink demanded Mr Kiely apologise, while Ms Carney added, "otherwise I'll ask if he happens to be a child abuser or something like that".

The Acting Deputy Speaker, Gerry Wood, asked Ms Carney to withdraw her comment. She did so, but accused the government of hypocrisy.

The Northern Territory's independent Member for Nelson, Gerry Wood, says as chairman of the night's debate he was dismayed by his colleagues' behaviour.

He says Mr Elferink's warnings had come too late.

"I suppose there's a famous, famous old saying, 'You should go outside and have a good hard look at yourself' and I think some of our members should do exactly that," he said.

"I think the level of behaviour last night, and it's not the only night, has just about got as low as it can go."

Newshawk: http://www.tuf.org.au
Pubdate: 14th October 2004
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Copyright: 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation