Page 2287 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 16 June 2009
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MR SESELJA: We have already dealt with that. Ms Gallagher is interjecting, but we have dealt with this issue and it is the reason why we are here. It is the reason why we saw the press release, the correspondence and why we have got here.
Mr Corbell: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Seselja is yet to address the substance of the motion. He is now four minutes into his speech. He is yet to address the substance of the motion, which is why a select committee on privileges should be established. It is not about the FOI matter. It is not about a decision by an FOI maker. It is about why a committee should be established and why Mr Hanson’s privileges have apparently been abused. That is the matter before us, Mr Speaker. Mr Seselja at some point has to move away from his conspiracy theory—“the truth is out there” argument—and get to the point, which is the substance of the motion.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell. I hear your point of order.
MR SESELJA: Mr Speaker, on the point of order, I think you have ruled on the relevance. You have pointed to the press release, and this goes to the heart of that. It is not up to Mr Corbell to debate whether he likes where I am going with an argument. You have ruled that this is relevant and in order and I would ask you to ask Mr Corbell to stop the frivolous interjections.
MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Mr Corbell. Mr Seselja, I think you have quite a bit of background now. It would be good if you came to the argument.
MR SESELJA: Sure. Mr Speaker, the next part of this, and this is why it is right that this be examined by the Assembly, is the appropriateness of correspondence between public servants and MLAs. What we are seeing is a shocking double standard on the part of this minister where, when it suits them, ministers speak on behalf of the public service, but when it does not suit them the public servants attack on behalf of the minister. That is what we have seen here.
We heard very clearly Mr Stanhope put his views on the record and actually correct them in relation to the public service versus the executive and the government. The public service does not exist in and of its own right; it is part of the government. It is a very dangerous situation when a member of this place criticises the government, criticises the minister and the actions of the government, and we see the public servants attacking that member.
Ms Gallagher: Sending a letter, Zed.
MR SESELJA: We do need to reverse it, because if the new standard is that it does not have to come through the minister, if the new standard that Ms Gallagher is proposing is that it does not have to come through the minister—
Ms Gallagher: So your FOI requests come through me, do they?
MR SESELJA: This is about press statements. If the new standard is that, whether it is press statements or anything else, it does not have to come through the minister,
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