Page 1314 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 11 April 2018
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If, in my opinion, the matter does not merit precedence, I must inform the member in writing and also inform the Assembly of that decision. I am not required to judge whether there has been a breach of privilege or a contempt of the Assembly; I can only judge whether it merits precedence.
In accordance with the practice of the House of Representatives, on 29 March I wrote to the chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in order to ascertain from the committee whether the alleged actions by Miss C Burch and Ms Lee and the use of the Liberal Party website substantially interfered with the work of the committee and whether the committee intended to take any action in relation to the matter.
Today I received a response from the chair of the committee indicating that the committee had been unable to reach agreement as to whether the actions complained of had affected the work of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. I will table a copy of the committee’s letter for the information of members along with what I provided and wrote to the chair of the committee.
I have considered the matter and I have come to the view that the matter does merit precedence over other business. In accordance with the provisions of standing order 276, Ms Cody may, if she chooses, move an appropriate motion to refer the matter to a select committee on privileges.
Members, I table the correspondence I referred to.
Privilege—Alleged breach—
Copy of letter from Ms Cody to the Speaker, dated 22 March 2018.
Copy of letter from the Speaker to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, dated 29 March 2018.
Copy of letter from the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to the Speaker, dated 11 April 2018.
Privileges 2018—Select Committee
Proposed establishment
MS CODY (Murrumbidgee) (5.45): Under standing order 276, I move:
That:
(1) this Assembly notes:
(a) the letter distributed to Canberra residents in the names of Miss C. Burch and Ms Lee titled Inquiry into the methodology for determining rates and land tax for apartments;
(b) the letter calls upon residents of the Australian Capital Territory to make submissions to an inquiry of an Assembly committee via the haveyoursay.net.au website;
(c) the “haveyoursay” website is not operated by the committee secretariat, but by the Liberal Party of Australia ACT Division, with a registrant contact name of Alistair Coe;
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