Page 5099 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017

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This mirrors this government’s approach to dogs. The government can spin on a dime and come up with the most extraordinary legislation to put a ban on a legitimate sport because it suits their ideological agenda. We can destroy people’s lives and introduce the most onerous of laws to banish greyhound racing, but the government has to be pushed kicking and screaming to do anything substantial about the growing number of dangerous dog attacks.

I am sure we will see video of Mr Steel opening these new amenities at Mt Taylor at some stage down the track. I hope we do. When that happens I think anyone who is there should be asking, “Why did it take so long?” Well done to everyone who participated in this petition process. Please let it be known that my words of disappointment are solely for the government and their inaction up to this point. I will keep on doing whatever I can to push them in the right direction.

Privilege

Ruling by Speaker

MADAM SPEAKER: On 21 November 2017 Mrs Dunne gave written advice of a possible breach of privilege concerning a statutory declaration by Ms Gallagher tabled in the Eighth Assembly by the Chief Minister in relation to the election of a senator for the Australian Capital Territory. Mrs Dunne alleges that the statutory declaration may have been incorrect, that the Legislative Assembly may have been led to make a decision based on wrong information and that this may have been a contempt of the Assembly in accordance with standing order 277(a) and (o).

Mrs Dunne further alleged that the transmission of the Legislative Assembly’s decision to the Governor-General may have also been misleading. Upon receiving the letter, and in order to ascertain whether I should grant precedence to the matter, I subsequently wrote to the senator to seek further information about the statutory declaration that she made in 2015.

On 22 November I received a reply from Senator Gallagher explaining the events surrounding the statutory declaration. I table a full copy of the correspondence mentioned above, for the information of members, as well as the advice from the Clerk on the matter:

Alleged breach of privilege—

Copies of correspondence from—

Mrs Dunne to the Speaker, dated 21 November 2017.

The Speaker to Senator Katy Gallagher, dated 21 November 2017.

Senator Katy Gallagher to the Speaker, dated 22 November 2017.

The Speaker to Mrs Dunne, dated 27 November 2017.

Advice to the Speaker from the Clerk, dated 21 November 2017.

Procedure to elect a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory—Continuing resolution No 9—Copies of correspondence from—


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