Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a matter of privilege. I draw to your attention to photography in the chamber by one member of another. On Wednesday, 10 March, during the address to parliament by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a photograph of me was taken from the floor of the chamber by another member. It was emailed to the Sunshine Coast Daily, which then published it. I was sitting adjacent to, and across the corridor from, the Chief Opposition Whip, the member for Fairfax, who was on my right. The relevant portion of the paper also included the photograph and says:

A photograph of Mr Slipper, taken from a mobile phone on the Opposition side of parliament, was sent anonymously to the Daily yesterday afternoon.

I also draw your attention to an extract by Dennis Shanahan in The Weekend Australian on 13 and 14 March, showing another photograph. The article says:

Also this week, Queensland Liberal backbencher … was photographed … by someone sitting adjacent to him on the Coalition benches.

A close examination of the photograph in the Sunshine Coast Daily makes it clear that it was taken from very close to where I was sitting, from my right, from the same level on which I was sitting and that there were no other persons between me and the photographer. It is impossible for this particular picture to have been taken from the gallery. I also seek a forensic examination of the photograph by a qualified person to ascertain formally from which seat the photograph was taken and thus to confirm the identity of the culprit. If you were disposed not to arrange for a forensic examination of the photograph then I would seek your permission for me to arrange commercially for a forensic examination of the photograph.

The taking of the photograph, its transmission to the Sunshine Coast Daily and its subsequent publication, seriously interfere with my ability to carry out my duties as a member of parliament. I also raise this matter on behalf of all members because any of us could be caught in an unflattering position or with an unflattering expression on our faces. It would be a matter of great worry if other members were to repeat this action of photographing colleagues within the chamber. I also imagine, Mr Speaker, that it makes it difficult for you to discipline members of the press gallery who might be inclined to breach the rules on photography. I ask you to consider the matters that I have raised, with a view to referring the matter to the Privileges Committee. I also seek a forensic examination of the photograph which appeared in the Sunshine Coast Daily. I thank the House. I table the extracts from the Sunshine Coast Daily and The Weekend Australian.

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