Page 4356 - Week 10 - Thursday, 22 September 2011
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Representatives Practice and lecture us in detail. But of course, when it comes to taking some base political advantage, all of those things go out the window.
That is exactly what occurred when Mr Smyth issued his media statement on 20 September. He did not say that there were questions about interference or improper conduct to be considered. He said they had occurred. He said that matter had already been concluded and it was simply a matter of now determining what the punishment should be.
Well, he was wrong. He knowingly and deliberately went out into the community and sought to make claims that he knew were false, and he should be censured for that.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (3.54): Let us have a look at the press release that Mr Barr could not bring himself to quote from. Mr Smyth says:
Katy Gallagher's interference in the appointment of the new Auditor-General will be examined by a Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly …
Let us now look at what Ms Le Couteur said to you, Mr Speaker, in addressing the issue:
The majority of the committee was of the view—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members!
MRS DUNNE: Listen:
The majority of the Committee was of the view that the matter raised by Mr Smyth had caused interference with its work.
Mr Smyth said nothing more out there than he said in here, and he has demonstrated that over and over again. What has been clearly established is that the Chief Minister’s actions caused concern to Mr Smyth. As his job required him to do, he raised it with the Speaker. The Speaker did his job: he raised it with the committee. The majority of the committee found that the issues raised by Mr Smyth had caused interference with its work and went on to say it regarded it as a precedent and that if repeated it would cause substantial interference with the scrutiny and oversight role of parliamentary committees.
These are very serious matters. As a result you, Mr Speaker, found precedence and as a result of that a majority of members in this place found that there should be a privileges inquiry into that matter.
By going out and putting out a press release—the offence is to put out a press release—Mr Smyth told the public what we had done in here.
Mr Corbell: No, he went further than that.
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