2274GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 17 March 2022

2274 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, WA 17 March 2022 8.13 Personal explanations (1) A member who wishes to make a personal explanation relating to a matter referred to by another member who is then speaking is to indicate to the presiding member his or her intention to make a personal explanation. (2) The presiding member is to determine whether the personal explanation is to be heard immediately or at the conclusion of the speech by the other member. (3) A member making a personal explanation is to confine his or her observations to a succinct statement relating to a specific part of the speech at which he or she may have been misunderstood. 8.14 No reopening of discussion A member is not to reopen discussion on any council decision, except to move that the decision be revoked or changed (see Part 16). 8.15 Adverse reflection (1) A member is not to reflect adversely on a decision of the Council except on a motion that the decision be revoked or changed. (2) A member is not— (a) to reflect adversely on the character or actions of another member or employee; or (b) to impute any motive to a member or employee unless the meeting resolves, without debate, that the motion then before the meeting cannot otherwise be adequately considered. (3) A member is not to use offensive or insulting expressions in reference to any member, employee or other person. (4) If a member specifically requests, immediately after their use, that any particular words used by a member be recorded in the minutes— (a) the presiding member is to cause the words used to be taken down and read to the meeting for verification; and (b) the council may, by resolution, decide to record those words in the minutes. 8.16 Withdrawal of offensive language (1) A member who, in the opinion of the presiding member, uses an expression which— (a) in the absence of a resolution under clause 8.15— (i) reflects adversely on the character or actions of another member or employee; or (ii) imputes any motive to a member or employee; or (b) is offensive or insulting, must, when directed by the presiding member, withdraw the expression and make a satisfactory apology. (2) If a member fails to comply with a direction of the presiding member under subclause (1), the presiding member may refuse to hear the member further on the matter then under discussion and call on the next speaker. PART 9—PRESERVING ORDER 9.1 Presiding member to preserve order (1) The presiding member is to preserve order and, whenever considered necessary, may call any member or other person to order. (2) When the presiding member speaks during a debate, any member then speaking, or indicating that he or she wishes to speak, is immediately to sit down and every member present is to preserve strict silence so that the presiding member may be heard without interruption. (3) Subclause (2) is not used to by the presiding member to exercise the right provided in clause in clause 8.7, but not to preserve order. 9.2 Point of order (1) A member may object, by way of a point of order, only to a breach of— (a) any of this local law; or (b) any other written law. (2) Despite anything in this local law to the contrary, a point of order— (a) takes precedence over any discussion; and (b) until determined, suspends the consideration or discussion of any other matter.