Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the report from the Privileges and Member's Interests Committee, concerning an application from Mr Michael Smith, for the publication of a response to a reference made in the House of Representatives.

The report read as follows—

Report concerning an application from Mr Michael Smith for the publication of a response to a reference made in the House of Representatives

House of Representatives

Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests

March 2013

Canberra

1.1 Mr Michael Smith has made an application, under the procedure adopted by the House on 27 August 1997, for the publication of a response to references made about him in the House by Hon Julia Gillard MP on 28 November 2012. The Committee considers Mr Smith should be given a response and the terms of the response have been agreed by him and the Committee. A copy of the response is at Appendix 1.

1.2 In agreeing to the response, the Committee notes, as required by the resolution of the House for Rights of Reply, that it has not considered or judged the truth of any statements made by Members in the House or by the person seeking a response.

1.3 The Committee recommends that a response by Mr Smith (at Appendix 1) to references made about him in the House on 28 November 2012 be incorporated in Hansard.

Hon Nicola Roxon MP

Chair

March 2013

Appendix 1

Response by Michael Smith to remarks of the Prime Minister

On the 28 November 2012, the Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard MP, made a number of remarks about me which I wish to refute.

The Prime Minister asserted “He [Michael Smith] is the man who was sacked for wanting to defame me, basing that defamation on an affidavit drawn up by John Pasquarelli of One Nation fame.”

It is untrue that I was sacked. I resigned from Fairfax Media (radio 2UE). It also is false that I wanted to defame the Prime Minister. Finally, I have never read an affidavit drawn up by John Pasquarelli.

by leave—I move:

That the report be agreed to.

The report that I present concerns an application from a person for the publication of a response to references made about him in the House. The committee has recommended to the House that the response in the terms included in the report be incorporated in the Hansard. In recommending that the response be incorporated in the Hansard, the committee emphasises that, as required by the right of reply resolution, it has not considered or judged the truth of any statements made by the member in the House or by the person seeking a response.

Question agreed to.