Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a personal explanation concerning the motion moved by Rodney Hide this afternoon.

I have carefully considered the request of the House to name Members I was referring to in my speech in the general debate yesterday.

In that speech I used rather colourful language to describe the behaviour of some members I witnessed on the night of a recent press gallery party. I accept that some members feel I have impugned their integrity and are offended. I did not intend to call into question the integrity of the many members in the House who do not drink during sitting hours and if they are offended by my comments I apologise to them unreservedly.

However, on careful consideration I believe it would be unhelpful to name members in the House. I do not wish this to become a personal attack on any member for their behaviour on a single occasion. I do not wish to cause them or their families the distress of being named publicly for behaviour which may not even be characteristic for them.

The issue is that alcohol is frequently consumed within the precincts while parliament is in session and that the degree of tolerance our society shows for alcohol is inconsistent with the approach it takes to cannabis. Young people would be more likely to have respect for the law if their elders showed less hypocrisy.

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