Page 4095 - Week 12 - Thursday, 1 December 2022
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Thursday, 1 December 2022
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms Burch) (10.01): Members:
Dhawura nguna, dhawura Ngunnawal.
Yanggu ngalawiri, dhunimanyin Ngunnawalwari dhawurawari.
Nginggada Dindi dhawura Ngunnaawalbun yindjumaralidjinyin.
The words I have just spoken are in the language of the traditional custodians and translate to:
This is Ngunnawal Country.
Today we are gathering on Ngunnawal country.
We always pay respect to Elders, female and male, and Ngunnawal country.
Members, I ask you to stand in silence and pray or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.
Privileges 2022—Select Committee
Report
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (10.02): I present the following report:
Privileges 2022—Select Committee—Report—Imposition of a prohibition notice by WorkSafe ACT, dated 28 November 2022, together with a copy of the minutes of proceedings.
I move:
That the report be adopted.
On 15 August this year the committee was established by this Assembly to enquire into the circumstances relating to the prohibition notices placed on this Assembly. The terms of reference were then amended on 21 September to also enquire into the conduct of a minister. Specifically, the terms of reference were to examine whether there had been a breach of privilege relating to the actions of the Work Health and Safety Commissioner and any other person, and whether they have improperly interfered with the free exercise of the authority of the Select Committee on Estimates, or breached any other privileges of the Assembly. The committee was then also asked to examine the alleged breach of privilege raised by the Select Committee on Estimates in relation to a possible interference by a minister in the work of the committee.
The matters of privilege that have been engaged by these incidents are incredibly important and, to a large extent, underpin the democratic freedoms of any parliament. They are also, as I am sure the other committee members would agree, quite complex, particularly in the context of work health and safety laws and the need to keep people safe during the pandemic. The committee has worked hard to deliver a unanimous report and make findings and recommendations that are focused on education and finding remedies to the events that occurred, rather than seeking any sort of retribution against individuals.
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