Report concerning an application from Mr Brian McCarty for the publication of a response to a reference made in the House of Representatives
Membership of the Committee
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Chair
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Hon Nicola Roxon MP (from 6 February 2013
Ms Yvette D’Ath MP (to 6 February 2013)
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Deputy Chair
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Mr Patrick Secker MP
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Members
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Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP (nominee of the Leader of the House)
Mr Geoff Lyons MP
Hon Robert McClelland MP
Mr Don Randall MP
Hon Philip Ruddock MP
Ms Laura Smyth MP
Hon Alex Somlyay MP (nominee of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition)
Mr Mike Symon MP
Mr Tony Windsor MP
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Committee Secretariat
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Secretary
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Mr David Elder
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Research Officer
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Ms Claressa Surtees
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Administrative Officer
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Ms Laura Gillies |
Report
| 1.1 |
Mr Brian McCarty has made an application, under the procedure adopted by the House on 27 August 1997, for the publication of a response to references made about him in the House by Hon Warren Entsch MP on 17 September 2012. |
| 1.2 |
The Committee considers Mr McCarty should be given a response and the terms of the response have been agreed by him and the Committee. A copy of the response is at Appendix 1 |
| 1.3 |
In agreeing to the response, the Committee notes, as required by the resolution of the House for Rights of Reply, that it has not considered or judged the truth of any statements made by Members in the House or by the person seeking a response.
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| 1.4 |
The Committee recommends that a response by Mr McCarty (at Appendix 1) to references made about him in the House on 17 September 2012 be incorporated in Hansard.
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HON NICOLA ROXON MP
Chair
February 2013
Appendix 1: Response by Mr Brian McCarty to remarks made by the Member for Leichhardt
On 17 September 2012 the Member for Leichhardt, Mr Warren Entsch MP, made a speech in the House of Representatives which identified me by name, and included false statements about me. This is my submission under the ‘Right of Reply’ process.
Mr Entsch referred to a satirical political blog website in Cairns called hillbillywatch.com that has criticised politicians and other public figures in Cairns, and he erroneously and inappropriately linked it to me.
Mr Entsch also stated that I had attempted two web ventures, ‘coralseastudios.com and webjazz.com’, both of which he said he had been told turned out badly.
In relation to Coral Sea Studios this is untrue. Coral Sea Studios Pty Ltd is a registered Australian company that was never a ‘web’ venture. It was an attempt to develop a world-class recording studio complex in Cairns in 2000-2001, and again at Mr Entsch’s encouragement in 2005 as demonstrated by a letter of support signed by Mr Entsch in 2005. The 2001 effort foundered when the 9/11 tragedy occurred in the USA.
In 2005, Mr Entsch attempted to encourage us to proceed again with the Coral Sea Studios venture, promising support that never materialised. These professionals would never have invested money and reputation in this venture if they were concerned about the ethics of the managing director.
There is no such venture anywhere listed as ‘webjazz.com’.
Contrary to Mr Entsch’s remarks, I have no ‘former associates’ that have issued any advice to Mr Entsch about ‘attempted investment fraud using fake website content and stolen identities’. This is false and I object to any suggestion that I have ever done anything illegal or immoral.
I do not work at the Baskin-Robbins ice cream franchise on the Cairns Esplanade as guest relations manager as claimed by Mr Entsch.
Suggestions made by Mr Entsch that I have a ‘severe personality disorder’ are also untrue. I am active in various technical and standards committees in the film and TV industry, to the delight of my colleagues. My 20+ years as a sound engineer at the highest levels of filmmaking in Hollywood, including as part of the sound team on three pictures nominated for ‘Best Sound’ at the Oscars, is legendary. And I continue to make contributions to the entertainment industry on behalf of Australia, as a proud Australian.