Legislative Assembly Privileges Committee

Person Referred To In The Legislative Assembly

Cr Arthur Athanasopoulos

October 2001

Ordered To Be Printed

By Authority

Government Printer For The State Of Victoria

No. 104 - Session 1999-2001

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 19^th March 2001 Cr Arthur Athanasopoulos, Mayor of the City of Kingston, wrote a submission to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 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 Mr Geoff Leigh MP, in the Legislative Assembly on 21^st November 2000. The Speaker, having accepted the submission as a submission for the purposes of the Sessional Order, referred it to the Committee on 12^th April 2001.

The Committee met in private session on 30^th May 2001 and, pursuant to Sessional Order 7(2), decided to consider the submission. After considering this submission the Committee resolved to accept an application for right of reply from Cr Athanasopoulos.

On 24^th September 2001 the Committee received an application for right of reply from Cr Athanasopoulos. The Committee met again in private session on 17^th October 2001 and agreed to a right of reply. In agreeing to the attached response, the Committee did not consider it necessary to consult either with Cr Athanasopoulos or Mr Leigh.

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.

Recommendation

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

Committee Room

17^th October 2001