Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I seek the chair’s indulgence to raise a matter of privilege.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Indulgence is granted.

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. Madam Deputy Speaker, this morning the state member for Townsville has, I believe, sought to interfere with the free performance by me of my parliamentary duties. Mr Reynolds has tried to intimidate me into not communicating with my electorate. Such an action is a breach of privilege and a contempt of this parliament. I am seeking enforcement of the full sanctions of the parliament in the matter of privilege and contempt. I will provide the Speaker with the evidence that I have, and I will request that this be referred to the Privileges Committee.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Herbert. Such a serious matter having been brought to the chair’s attention, I will advise the Speaker of what the member has advised the House, in order that the Speaker may look at the matter.

Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Deputy Speaker.

Arch Bevis (Brisbane, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Aviation and Transport Security) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I raise a point of order. I do recognise the gravity of the matter as raised by the member for Herbert, but I thought the normal practice was that, in raising the matter in this chamber, the member would set out the circumstances that give rise to the privilege issue. As I heard the member for Herbert, he said he was going to write to the Speaker. Would it not be the normal practice for the matter to be raised on the floor?

Ian Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Brisbane for his point of order and ask him to resume his seat. In fact, when a member sees that there is a breach of privilege that they feel they are subject to, the member can bring it to the attention of the House as soon as that is practicable. This was as soon as practicable, and the procedure is now that the member supplies the correct information to the Speaker for his consideration as to whether or not it will be referred to the Privileges Committee. So I rule that your point of order is out of order.