Page 3998 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video

Having considered Mr Smyth’s letter and the advice from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, I am prepared to allow precedence to a motion to refer the matter to a select committee should Mr Smyth choose to move such a motion. For the information of members, I present the following papers:

Alleged breach of privilege—Copies of letters from—

Mr Smyth to the Speaker, dated 15 August 2011.

The Speaker to the Chair, Standing Committee on Public Accounts, dated 16 August 2011.

The Chair, Standing Committee on Public Accounts, to the Speaker, dated 7 September 2011.

Privileges 2011—Select Committee

Appointment

MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (10.04): I move:

That:

(1) pursuant to standing order 276, a Select Committee on Privileges be established to examine whether there was improper interference with the free exercise by an Assembly committee of its authority, in relation to:

(a) the announcement by the Chief Minister, in a press release, of the Government’s proposed nominee for the position of Auditor-General;

(b) approaches made to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts during the course of the Committee’s consideration of the proposed nominee to the position of Auditor-General; and

(c) any other relevant matters;

(2) the Committee shall report back to the Assembly by the last sitting week in November 2011; and

(3) the Committee shall be composed of:

(a) one member nominated by the Government;

(b) one member nominated by the Crossbench; and

(c) one member nominated by the Opposition;

to be notified to the Speaker by 4 pm today.

Mr Speaker, this is a very important issue and it is a very important motion that is before the house. I would implore members to consider the principles that are at stake here in both what has happened and, as has been pointed out, the potential of what may happen in the future.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video