George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I present the 135th report of the Committee of Privileges entitled Persons referred to in the Senate: certain persons on behalf of the Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship.

Ordered that the report be printed.

I move:

That the report be adopted.

This report is the 52nd 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 16 September 2008 the President received a submission from Mr Doug Burgess, Mr Daniel Hales, Mr Bruce Pridham and Mr David Stewart on the behalf of the Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship related to remarks made in the Senate on 26, 27 and 28 August by Senator Bob Brown and Senator Christine Milne. The President referred their submission to the Committee of Privileges under resolution 5. The committee considered the submission on 18 September 2008 and recommends that the proposed response by Mr Burgess, Mr Hales, Mr Pridham and Mr Stewart on behalf of the Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship, as agreed by the committee, be incorporated in Hansard.

The committee takes this opportunity to remind the Senate that in matters of this nature it does not judge the truth or otherwise of statements made by honourable senators or statements made by the persons referred to. Rather, it ensures that these persons’ submissions and, ultimately, the responses it recommends be published in accord with the criteria set out in privilege resolution 5. On this occasion, the Privileges Committee has so resolved. I commend the motion to the Senate.