Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, Deputy Speaker—

Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is indulgence given?

Honourable members interjecting—

Yes.

Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. On indulgence: as has been reported in the press, I have apologised to a person who has been a respondent in a racial vilification case, which I mentioned previously in this place. I can confirm that I have provided a written apology to this person and have left it at his discretion whether to disclose its contents.

Deputy Speaker, you may recall that an allegation was made in a racial vilification case that a racist phrase was used in a Facebook post bearing this person's name. The person concerned gave evidence accepted by the court that he was not the author of the Facebook post attributed to him. It has been brought to my attention that there are some concerns over references I made in this place on 23 November 2016, in which I described these circumstances as the person's Facebook account being either hacked or subjected to a hacking. The circumstance was that the court received evidence that another person posted the relevant message pretending to be the respondent. I trust this addresses the concerns that have been brought to my attention. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 19:24