John Murphy (Lowe, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the matters you are investigating concerning the conduct of the member for Mackellar as Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services, would you also include in your investigation the conduct of the member for Mackellar as Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the 40th Parliament? This conduct also resulted in all of the opposition members resigning from that committee.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Lowe that, as I said in my statement earlier, I was asking the Deputy Speaker, in his capacity as chair of the liaison committee of chairs and deputy chairs, to consider the issues of procedure and practice in relation to this matter. I have nothing further to add to that.

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

I think your comments have virtually answered the question I wanted to ask, which was: could you clarify that what you are investigating is committee procedures generally?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Mackellar has the call!

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

Mr Speaker, I was merely saying that I wanted to have you clarify precisely what it was you said you are asking the Deputy Speaker to look at. I understood you to say it is the way in which committee procedures are undertaken in all aspects—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

and, if I might say, in particular to the operation of standing order 242 and the leaking that has gone on with regard to this particular report.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I would say to the member for Mackellar that on the first point I will refer her back to the statement I made a couple of minutes ago. On the last point, the first place to start on that issue is within the committee.