135th Report

1.                  On 16 September 2008 the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon. John Hogg, received a submission on behalf of the Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship from Messrs Doug Burgess, Daniel Hales, Bruce Pridham and David Stewart 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).

2.                  The submission referred to comments made by Senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne in the Senate on 26, 27 and 28 August 2008. The President, having accepted the submission as a submission for the purposes of the resolution, referred it to the Committee of Privileges on 17 September 2008.

3.                  The committee met in private session on 18 September 2008 and, pursuant to paragraph (3) of Privilege Resolution 5, decided to consider the submission, minus an annexure which it decided to consider separately. Otherwise, the committee resolved to recommend that the response be incorporated in Hansard without change. In considering the submission, the committee did not find it necessary to confer with the persons making the submission or with the senators concerned.

4.                  The committee draws attention to paragraph (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.

5.                  The committee recommends:

That a response by Mr Doug Burgess, Mr Daniel Hales, Mr Bruce Pridham and Mr David Stewart on behalf of the Exclusive Brethren Christian Fellowship in the terms specified at Appendix One, be incorporated in Hansard.

George Brandis
Chair

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