Report

On 2 August 2006 the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon. Paul Calvert, received a submission from Mr Karl J. O’Callaghan, APM, Commissioner of Police, Western Australia, seeking redress 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 submission referred to comments made by Senator David Johnston in the Senate on 14 June 2006 during discussion of matters of public interest. The President, having accepted the submission as a submission for the purposes of the resolution, referred it to the Committee of Privileges on 3 August 2006.
The committee met in private session on 10 August 2006 and, pursuant to paragraph (3) of Privilege Resolution 5, decided to consider the submission. The response, which the committee now recommends for incorporation in Hansard, has been agreed to by Mr O’Callaghan and the committee in accordance with Resolution 5(7)(b).
The committee draws attention to paragraph 5(6) of the resolution which requires that, in considering a submission under this resolution and reporting to the Senate, the committee shall not consider or judge the truth of any statements made in the Senate or of the submission.
The committee recommends:

That a response by Mr Karl J. O’Callaghan, APM, Commissioner of Police, Western Australia, in the terms specified at Appendix One, be incorporated in Hansard.

John Faulkner
Chair