Page 5100 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017

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The Deputy Speaker to the Speaker, dated 14 September 2017.

The Speaker to the Deputy Speaker, dated 6 October 2017.

Also, for completeness, I have tabled earlier correspondence from Mrs Dunne in relation to possibly seeking to set up a select committee to look at the continuing resolution.

Under the provisions of standing order 276, I must determine as soon as practicable whether or not the matter merits precedence over other business. If, in my opinion, the matter does deserve precedence I must inform the Assembly of the decision and the member who raised the matter may move a motion without notice forthwith to refer the matter to a select committee appointed by the Assembly for that purpose.

If, in my opinion, the matter does not merit precedence, I must inform the member in writing, which I have done, and also inform the Assembly of that decision. I am not required to judge whether there has been a breach of privilege or a contempt of the Assembly. I can only judge whether the matter merits precedence. Having considered the matter, I have concluded that the matter does not merit precedence over other business. Mrs Dunne, I think that might also go to your letter of this morning where you requested a copy of the correspondence. That has just been tabled.

Mrs Dunne: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to move to establish a select committee on privilege to examine the matters that you have referred to.

Leave not granted.

Standing orders—suspension

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (11.46): I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would allow Mrs Dunne to move a motion to establish a Select Committee on Privileges.

Madam Speaker, I am disappointed in your decision that this matter does not warrant precedence. I went to great pains in the letter that I wrote to you, which has been tabled for members’ information, to make the point that I am not making any judgement about the citizenship eligibility of someone to sit in the Senate. I am concerned about the processes and procedures that have taken place in this place.

I am concerned about them because at the time I was the Speaker and, while only marginally associated with the actions, I am concerned that I may have overseen something that, in hindsight, may have proved to be wrong and potentially misleading to both the Assembly and, most importantly from my point of view, the Governor-General.

The matters that I raise in the letter are about procedures. I also point out to members that I have a motion on the notice paper referring continuing resolution 9 to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure to look at prospectively


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