John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the 127th report of the Committee of Privileges, entitled Persons referred to in the Senate: certain persons on behalf of the Exclusive Brethren.

Ordered that the report be printed.

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the report.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the report be adopted.

This report is the 47th in a series of reports recommending that a right of reply be accorded to persons who claim to have been adversely affected by being referred to, either by name or in such a way as to be readily identified, in the Senate.

On 8 June 2006, the President received a submission from Mr Philip McNaughton, Mr C Warwick John and Mr David W Stewart, on behalf of the Exclusive Brethren, relating to the contents of a notice of motion given by Senator Bob Brown in the Senate on 9 May 2006. The President referred the submission to the committee under privilege resolution 5. The committee considered the submission on 15 June 2006 and recommends that Mr Philip McNaughton, Mr C Warwick John and Mr David W Stewart’s proposed response on behalf of the Exclusive Brethren, as agreed by the committee and the persons making the submission, be incorporated in Hansard.

The committee reminds the Senate that, in matters of this nature, it does not judge the truth or otherwise of statements made by honourable senators or the persons referred to. Rather, it ensures that these persons’ submissions and, ultimately, the responses it recommends accord with the criteria set out in privilege resolution 5. I commend the motion to the Senate.