Current inquiries:
Reference: Guidance for officers giving evidence and providing information
The following matter has been referred to the Privileges Committee for inquiry and report:
The adequacy and appropriateness of current guidance and advice available to officers giving evidence to Senate committees and when providing information to the Senate and to senators, including:
(a) the adequacy and applicability of government guidelines and instructions;
(b) the procedural and legal protections afforded to those officers;
(c) the awareness among agencies and officers of the extent of the Senate’s power to require the production of information and documents; and
(d) the awareness among agencies and officers of the nature of relevant advice and protections.
An earlier, related inquiry into ‘government guidelines for witnesses appearing before parliamentary committees’ (the government guidelines for witnesses) lapsed after the end of the last parliament. Information on that inquiry and the committee’s brief report on the matter are available here. The new inquiry covers the same area as well as broader territory. Information on the background of the inquiry can be found here, along with the submissions received by the committtee.
On 9 February 2012 the committee received a supplementary submission from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet containing a revised version of the government guidelines.
Reference: Whether a witness was threatened with, or subjected to, any penalty or injury on account of his evidence to the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee
The following matter was referred to the Privileges Committee on 17 August 2011 for inquiry and report:
Having regard to the material submitted to the President by the Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee, whether a witness was threatened with, or subjected to, any penalty or injury on account of his evidence to the committee, whether there was any attempt improperly to interfere with a witness before the committee, and whether any contempt of the Senate was committed in those regards.
Reference: Having regard to matters raised by Senator Kroger relating to donations made by Mr Graeme Wood
The following matter was referred to the Privileges Committee on 24 November 2011 for inquiry and report:
Having regard to matters raised by Senator Kroger relating to political donations made by Mr Graeme Wood, arrangements surrounding the sale of the Triabunna woodchip mill by Gunns Ltd and questions without notice asked by Senator Bob Brown and Senator Milne:
(a) whether any person, by the offer or promise of an inducement or benefit, or by other improper means, attempted to influence a senator in the senator’s conduct as a senator, and whether any contempt was committed in that regard; and
(b) whether Senator Bob Brown received any benefit for himself or another person on the understanding that he would be influenced in the discharge of his duties as a senator, or whether he entered into any contract, understanding or arrangement having the effect, or possibly having the effect, of controlling or limiting his independence or freedom of action as a senator or pursuant to which he or any other senator acted as the representative of an outside body in the discharge of their duties as senators, and whether any contempt was
committed in those regards.
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committee of Privileges
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Website feedback: web.senate@aph.gov.au
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