Page 2275 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 16 June 2009

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been committed by Mr Mark Cormack, Chief Executive of ACT Health, in relation to a letter he sent to Mr Hanson on 25 May 2009 instructing him to retract public statements he made following a public hearing of the Select Committee on Estimates 2009-2010;

(2) the committee is to consider:

(a) whether Mr Cormack’s letter, and its instructions, amounted to interference with Mr Hanson’s duties as a Member of the Legislative Assembly; and

(b) whether this constitutes a breach of privilege or contempt of the Legislative Assembly by Mr Cormack;

(3) the Committee shall report back to the Assembly on 18 August 2009; and

(4) the Committee shall be composed of:

(a) one member nominated by the Government;

(b) one member nominated by the Crossbench; and

to be notified to the Speaker by 4 p.m. today.

As members of the Assembly, we must be allowed to conduct our duties freely and without any interference or improper influence, and it is of genuine concern that I am, through this motion, seeking to refer a matter to a select committee on privileges. The issue relates to a letter that I received on 25 May from the Chief Executive of ACT Health that made certain assertions and requests that, I believe, had I complied with those requests, would have restricted me in the free performance of my duties of holding the executive—in this case, the Minister for Health—to account.

I am not referring this matter as a result of any personal grievance or any political motive. I might add that I am doing this not with my interests at heart but in the interests of the fair operation of the Assembly. This is a matter that goes to the heart of the Westminster system and the ability of the non-executive members of the Assembly to perform their duties free from interference or improper influence. It goes to the relationship between the executive, the non-executive members of the Assembly and the public service, and it is an issue that affects all members equally. Those who have a genuine interest in the proper functioning of the Assembly will, no doubt, share my concerns.

I would like to turn now to the facts of the matter and briefly outline for members what has occurred. In March, a number of reports in the media alleged that the property adjoining the proposed site of the bush healing farm had plans for a winery. This was subject to some political and public debate at the time. Prior to the estimates hearings, Mr Seselja received a document under freedom of information legislation relating to the bush healing farm. It was an email written to the Chief Minister from

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