Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday, for the first time since Federation and at the Prime Minister's direction, the government voted down a referral to the Privileges Committee given precedence by the Speaker. Why is the Prime Minister running a protection racket for the member for Pearce?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Page 771 of Practice makes very clear that the opinion by the Speaker 'does not imply a conclusion that a breach of privilege or a contempt has occurred, or even that the matter should necessarily be investigated'. That's what Practice says, very clearly. The House determined this matter yesterday, and the government took a position that in the broader issue of members of this place and the other place who are faced with pursuing defamation proceedings there should be clearer rules and clearer guidelines to members of this place so that they can take decisions. That is what we have referred to the Privileges Committee. The suggestion that somehow things are not being looked into, that things have not been referred to, is not the case. We have referred these matters directly to the chair of the Privileges Committee to consider these issues, because this has implications for members of this House on both sides, as it has implications for members who sit in the other place. We want to ensure that the rules are very clear. We're not going to play politics with this. If those opposite want to use the procedures of this House to smear, they will do so, but that will reflect on them.