Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Chairman, I rise on a point of order. I do not think he can accept the rule of the chair and then decide to state it another way. I did not rise before, but it is also inappropriate to mention the issue around privilege. Privilege is a very important principle in this place. I would remind senators that people do have a presumption of innocence when these issues are raised. It applies to all of us in this place. And it is appropriate that the procedures in this place are followed. They have been followed, and we as senators should be cognisant of that and not say anything further until the Privileges Committee has decided what they want to do and we can read the Privileges Committee report.