BOB CLARKSON (National—Tauranga) Link to this
I wish to withdraw and apologise for my remark made during the previous debate.
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Deputy Leader of the House) Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Leave was sought for the member to withdraw and apologise for his remark, and also for defying the Chair; that was the real reason he was asked to withdraw from the Chamber. It was not his remark about the Muliaga family in the previous debate that members took offence to. It was the point where he was asked to withdraw and he then defied the Speaker’s ruling, and that is why he was asked to leave. He has now come back to withdraw and apologise for that remark, and we gave leave for that personal statement to occur. The punishment for defying the Speaker, which is to withdraw from the Chamber, must surely still stand.
LINDSAY TISCH (National—Piako) Link to this
The member knows he has to withdraw from the Chamber. The exclusion was until the end of the session. Mr Clarkson will be leaving the Chamber now.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER Link to this
Thank you for raising that, Mr Hughes. Everything has to be done correctly. I thank Mr Clarkson for that. Speaker’s ruling 18/5 was the course to be followed, and it has been done.