Legislative Assembly Privileges Committee

Person Referred To In The Legislative Assembly
Mr Damien Bonnice
May 2000

Ordered To Be Printed
By Authority
Government Printer For The State Of Victoria

No. 29 - Session 1999-2000

Members Of The Committee

Mr P. J. Loney, MP Chair
Hon J. W. Thwaites, MP Deputy Chair
Hon R. F. Cooper, MP
Mr T. J. Holding, MP
Hon R. J. Hulls, MP
Hon R. R. C. Maclellan, MP
Mr N. J. Maughan, MP
Mr D. A. Nardella, MP
Mr A. F. Plowman, MP

Staff

Mr G. H. Westcott, Clerk of Committees, Legislative Assembly
Ms L. Choat, Manager, Procedure Office, Legislative Assembly

REPORT

On 3 April 2000 Mr Damien Bonnice wrote a submission to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Alex Andrianopoulos, seeking redress under Sessional Order 7 relating to the protection of persons referred to in the Legislative Assembly.

The submission referred to statements made by the Honourable Steve Bracks, Premier, and the Honourable John Pandazopoulos, Minister for Major Projects, in the Legislative Assembly on 22 March 2000. The Speaker, having accepted the submission as a submission for the purposes of the Sessional Order, referred it to the Committee on 11 April 2000.

The Committee met in private session on 5 May 2000, 25 May 2000 and 31 May 2000 and, pursuant to Sessional Order 7(2), decided to consider the submission. In agreeing to the attached response, the Committee did not consider it necessary to consult either with Mr Bonnice, the Premier or the Minister for Major Projects.

The Committee draws attention to Sessional Order 7(6) which requires that, in considering a submission under this Sessional Order and reporting to the House, the Committee shall not consider or judge the truth of any statements made in the House or in the submission.

The Committee also advises that the length of the response reflects the Committee's acknowledgment that Mr Bonnice is responding to seven comments made in the Legislative Assembly by the Premier and the Minister for Major Projects.

Recommendation

That a response by Mr Bonnice, in the terms specified at Appendix 1 and agreed to by Mr Bonnice and the Committee, be published with this report.