House debates

Thursday, 24 May 2012

Privilege

9:01 am

Photo of Yvette D'AthYvette D'Ath (Petrie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I rise to raise a matter of privilege. An article by Michelle Grattan in an online version of the Age this morning appears to reveal details of the meeting of the Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests that was held last night. The details in the article seem to indicate that there has been an unauthorised disclosure of the internal proceedings of the committee. At the meeting the committee specifically discussed that it was important that members not disclose matters from the committee whilst it was considering a very important issue of privilege that had been referred by the House. I am extremely disappointed that this disclosure has occurred and I am unsure of the source of the disclosure. I am aware of the general provisions relating to the unauthorised disclosure from committee proceedings, and I propose in accordance with those to pursue the matter with those within the committee. I seek leave to table the online article from Michelle Grattan from the Age.

Leave granted.

9:02 am

Photo of Patrick SeckerPatrick Secker (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

On indulgence, Deputy Speaker. Can I say, as deputy chair of the committee, I totally support the chairman's position today.