Page 624 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
those amazing coincidences in life, I also received at the same time in my in-box a letter from the chair of the legal committee asking further very similarly weighted questions in relation to answers I gave to this issue. I am aware of your responsibility, Mr Speaker, in seeking out issues in relation to the privileges of this place and ensuring they are protected. I draw to your attention the coincidence of a letter from the Leader of the Opposition and a letter from the chair of the legal committee arriving in my in-box at the same time on the same subject.
Mr Speaker, the letter from the Leader of the Opposition has asked me, interestingly, if I would correct some important questions. I am not quite sure how one corrects questions. I think, perhaps, the Leader of the Opposition is asking me to answer some additional questions, but I am advised that my statement yesterday raised several important questions which Mr Seselja believes ought to be corrected. We do know, however, of Mr Seselja’s forensic background and his admiration for Boston Legal, the source, apparently, of his inspiration in relation to forensic issues. I guess we can excuse him in relation to the fact that the letter seeks that I correct questions. It states:
… your admission—
that is that I have misled the Assembly—
raises several other important questions, which … I believe ought to be corrected …
He goes on then to ask questions, which I believe he wants answered. I am more than happy to answer those questions, Mr Speaker.
The first question:
Were you informed by officials or Mr Corbell or his office that you had provided a misleading statement to the Assembly? If so, when?
The answer is no.
If you were not informed by Mr Corbell or officials, did you discover your mislead from a media outlet?
No, I was advised about issues with my statement to the Assembly by a member of my staff.
If Mr Corbell did not inform you of the misleading statement, have you asked Mr Corbell to explain why he allowed your misleading statement to stand?
Yes, I have.
If you have asked him, what was his explanation?
Mr Corbell’s explanation is quite clearly on the public record. I draw the public record to the attention of Mr Seselja, if he seeks to pursue it.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .