Report concerning an application from Mr Michael Smith 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
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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
* Mr McClelland did not participate in the Committee’s consideration of this matter.
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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 Officers
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Ms Laura Gillies
Ms Lynette Eager |
Report
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Mr Michael Smith 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 Julia Gillard MP on 28 November 2012. The Committee considers Mr Smith 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. |
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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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The Committee recommends that a response by Mr Smith (at Appendix 1) to references made about him in the House on 28 November 2012 be incorporated in Hansard. |
HON NICOLA ROXON MP
Chair
March 2013
Appendix 1: Response by Michael Smith to remarks of the Prime Minister
On the 28 November 2012, the Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard MP, made a number of remarks about me which I wish to refute.
The Prime Minister asserted “He [Michael Smith] is the man who was sacked for wanting to defame me, basing that defamation on an affidavit drawn up by John Pasquarelli of One Nation fame.”
It is untrue that I was sacked. I resigned from Fairfax Media (radio 2UE). It also is false that I wanted to defame the Prime Minister. Finally, I have never read an affidavit drawn up by John Pasquarelli.