Persons referred to in the Senate - Dr Chris Atkinson and Dr Chris
Harper
81st Report
November 1999
REPORT
- On 28 October 1999 the President of the Senate, Senator the Honourable
Margaret Reid, received a letter from Mr Les Apolony, Chief Executive
Officer, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists,
seeking redress on behalf of Dr Chris Atkinson and Dr Chris Harper,
under the resolution of the Senate of 25 February 1988 relating
to the protection of persons referred to in the Senate (Privilege Resolution
5).
- The letter referred to questions which Senator Chris Evans placed
on the Senate Notice Paper on 29 September 1999. The President, having
accepted the letter as a submission for the purposes of the resolution,
referred it to the Committee of Privileges on 9 November 1999.
- The committee met in private session on 25 November 1999 and, pursuant
to paragraph (3) of Privilege Resolution 5, decided to consider the
submission. In agreeing to the attached response, the committee did
not consider it necessary to consult either Dr Atkinson or Dr Harper
through The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
on the matter. It has decided to recommend the submission’s incorporation
in Hansard without change.
- The committee recommends:
Sue Knowles
Acting Chairman
APPENDIX ONE
RESPONSE BY THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND COLLEGE
OF RADIOLOGISTS ON BEHALF OF DR CHRIS ATKINSON AND DR CHRIS HARPER
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 5(7)(B) OF THE SENATE
OF 28 FEBRUARY 1988
I have been requested by two Fellows of this College to draw your attention
to false statements contained in the Senate Notice Paper No. 74 of 29
September 1999.
The relevant questions are Nos. 1650, 1651 and 1652 in which Senator
Evans sought information in respect of a number of College members. Among
those members were Dr Chris Atkinson, who was described as ‘a
radiologist with the Victorian Imaging Group’ and Dr Chris Harper,
who was said to be ‘a radiologist of Perth Imaging Centre’.
Dr Chris Atkinson is a Consultant Radiation Oncologist attached
to the Christchurch Public Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand. Dr Atkinson
has absolutely no involvement with the Victorian Imaging Group or any
other medical imaging practice. Dr Chris Harper also is a Consultant Radiation
Oncologist. He is Managing Partner at the Perth Radiation Oncology Clinic
and has absolutely no connection with the Perth Imaging Centre or any
other medical imaging practice.
Drs Atkinson and Harper are very concerned that their names have been
placed into the public domain in this context, with potentially serious
damage to their well-deserved professional reputations and standing. The
most basic research by Senator Evans’ staff prior to the questions
being placed on the Notice Paper would have established the falseness
of the statements made in respect of Drs Atkinson and Harper.
The purpose and value of Parliamentary Privilege is recognised. However,
surely it is incumbent upon those who enjoy that privilege to exercise
it in such a way as to avoid the harm caused to Drs Atkinson and Harper
by this apparently wanton use of their names.
It would be appreciated if you would ensure that the members of the Senate
are informed of the correct situation in regard to Drs Atkinson and Harper,
please. It would seem reasonable also to ask that Senator Evans be requested
to issue a personal apology to each person.
Les Apolony
Chief Executive Officer