Alby Schultz (Hume, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I rise to make a statement in relation to the report titled Report concerning an application from Mr Ian Munro for the publication of a response to a reference made in the House of Representatives. On Tuesday 30 October 2012, during the debate on the Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012, I made a statement in relation to Mr Ian Jock Munro. This statement was that he came into this parliament and tried to intimidate people, that he went to the office of the member for Farrer, and that she was, following that meeting, distraught.

I want to put the record straight that I inadvertently, following a phone call about a threat made to the member for Farrer, did not check my facts in terms of whether Mr Munro was in fact in the House. The reality was that he was not. But the issue now is centred around what occurred involving Mr Munro. Mr Munro telephoned the member for Farrer—I checked with her last night to get my facts right—and threatened her. I gave her some advice in relation to the contravention of telecommunications legislation and the Crimes Act and instructed her to contact the Australian Federal Police, which she did. She reported the matter to the Australian Federal Police.

I apologise to the House for my lack of due diligence in the way in which I reported the concerns raised with me by the member for Farrer. I think the issue of a threat being made against a female member of this parliament needs to be aired. I thank the parliament for the indulgence.

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