Report

1.1      On 21 September 2011 the President of the Senate, Senator the Honourable John Hogg, received a submission from Reverend Monsignor Ian Dempsey 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).

1.2      The submission referred to comments made by Senator Xenophon during the adjournment debate in the Senate on 12 and 13 September 2011. The President accepted the submission as a submission for the purposes of the resolution and referred it to the Committee of Privileges on 21 September 2011.

1.3      The committee met in private session on 22 September 2011 and, pursuant to paragraph (3) of Privilege Resolution 5, decided to consider the submission. 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 person making the submission or with the senator concerned.

1.4      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.

1.5      The committee recommends:

That a response by Reverend Monsignor Ian Dempsey, in the terms specified in the Appendix, be incorporated in Hansard.

Senator David Johnston
Chair

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