Labor MP's caught pissing on the law of defamation?
Parliamentary privilege is a legal mechanism that allows members of parliament to speak freely without fear of legal action. Unfortunately there are many examples of gratuitous abuse of this right by MP's who make unsubstantiated allegations without any real foundation.
An article in The West Australian of Friday 20 June, indicates former senator and lobbyist Noel Crighton-Browne's application to have a right of reply to unfair and untrue allegations made against him by Labor MP's Alan Carpenter, Eric Ripper and Mark McGowan has been accepted by the House Privilege's Committee.
Mr Crighton-Browne wrote to the committee about his disgust, claiming the three mens' comments - made under parliamentary privilege - had the effect of "traducing, slandering and defiling" his reputation.
The Committee must have thought the comments of the Labor politicians were without foundation and so have given Crighton-Browne an opportunity to put his case into the Hansard record.
The Desert Rat has read a number of gratuitous and gutless "cowards castle" comments by MP's made under absolute privilege against Julian Grill and Brian Burke, from MP's on both sides of the House during the feeding frenzy that followed the Smith Beach hearing and inquiry. These allegations also need to be corrected to set the record straight.
The Desert Rat wonders if the Privileges Committee will upset some powerful people and allow Julian Grill and Brian Burke an opportunity to respond to untrue allegations made against them in both Houses of Parliament.
No comments:
Post a Comment