Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Can I add to the words of the member for Lingiari. I speak as the Father of the House in this regard and as a long-term member of the Privileges Committee. What has happened is absolutely regrettable, but it's not the fault of the member for Monash. I would join with and concur with the member for Lingiari, and I am certain I speak for the other coalition members of the Privileges Committee—one of whom is here, the member for North Sydney—in saying that we support the chairmanship of this committee by the member for Monash. I, too, would ask him to reconsider. The member for Monash is one of the most honourable people who sit in this parliament; that is my long experience of him. I don't always agree with him, but I hold him in the utmost respect. His leadership of this committee as chair has been exemplary. As I said, what has regrettably leaked into the media is not his fault in any way. It should not be the burden of him leaving the position he has. He has the utmost respect of the members of the committee.

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