Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, in my capacity as Leader of the House I have received correspondence from Harold Thomas Golden and Norma Jean Golden of Tara, in Queensland, who raise the issue that they received correspondence from the federal member for Maranoa thanking them for signing a petition. The letter to me indicates that Mr and Mrs Golden state that they have never heard of the petition or signed the petition.

I want to make it very clear that I cast no aspersions on the member for Maranoa, whom I know to be a man of honour, but in terms of the issue of petitions that are signed and the issue of whether people are therefore made accountable or not I would suggest that perhaps it could best be referred to the Standing Committee on Petitions to look at this question. I table the correspondence for your benefit and ask you to rule or to suggest accordingly.

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