Ms CORCORAN (3:11 PM) —Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence to make a short statement.

The SPEAKER —The member for Isaacs did raise with me a concern she had, and I indicated that I would extend to her indulgence and I do so.

Ms CORCORAN —Mr Speaker, this follows a question to you last Thursday from the members for Grayndler and Watson which followed a caution to me from the Deputy Speaker last Wednesday against the use of unparliamentary language. Last Thursday, I was not in my normal seat so I could not respond. Mr Speaker, in answer to the question, you noted that I had acknowledged the chair and the chair's caution; therefore, you assumed that I was not offended by the caution. Whilst that is a logical thing to assume, in fact, you were not correct on this occasion, Mr Speaker.

I would like to draw attention to the difference between questioning the veracity of information that we received from the government and using unparliamentary language against an individual—and I was engaged in the former, not the latter. At the time of the caution, I was faced with the choice of either finishing my speech or responding to the caution. Finishing my speech was far more important to me, and that was the course of action that I chose.

The SPEAKER —I thank the member for Isaacs. I think all members understand that there is a genuine effort on both sides of the House not to impute motives unfairly to members, and that was consistent with what the member for Isaacs has just said and consistent with my comments last Thursday.