The Honourable Greg Donnelly Abuse of Parliament Allegation
| About this Item |
Subjects | Legislative Council: New South Wales; Parliamentary Privilege; Liberal Party: New South Wales; Nationals: New South Wales |
Speakers | Skinner Mrs Jillian; Speaker |
Business | Privilege |
Commentary | Greg Donnelly |
Page: 22522
Privilege
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER (North Shore) [3.25 p.m.]: Under Standing Order No. 101 I declare that there has been a breach of my privilege as a Liberal member of Parliament. I note that threats of violence have been made against members of the Liberal Party and The Nationals in this Parliament. I have every right to be fearful for my safety. I believe I speak on behalf of my colleagues in the Liberal Party and The Nationals when I declare that I am threatened by the remark made in the other place. I am disgusted that the Premier refused to answer a question. I wish to move a motion.
Mr Carl Scully: Point of order: I understand the honourable member is alleging her privilege has been adversely affected by statements made by a member of the upper House who did not name her. In no way can the honourable member for North Shore say that her privilege is impugned by a comment in another Chamber when she was not named.
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for North Shore has raised a matter of privilege relating to comments made in a general sense that she claims impact upon her as a member of Parliament. I have not heard sufficient from her to determine whether she has established a prima facie case of breach of privilege. The honourable member for North Shore said that she has a motion of which she wishes to give notice.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: I do. Privilege has been breached because of a matter that arose during question time in this place today when the Premier was asked to disassociate himself from the comments made by a colleague in another place. He refused to do so, and I believe that breaches my privilege.
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for North Shore is now debating the issue. I ask her to direct her remarks to the alleged breach of privilege.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: I give notice of the following motion for immediate consideration:
That this House:
(1) notes the Premier's failure to condemn threats of violence against women made by his colleague Greg Donnelly, MLC.
(2) calls on the Premier to discipline his Labor colleague and dissociate his Government from Mr Donnelly and all his threats of violence.
Mr Carl Scully: Point of order: As I understand it, under the conventions and standing orders of this House, the Speaker is required to be satisfied by the honourable member for North Shore that a point of privilege has been made out before she moves a motion. She is really drawing a long-bow.
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! If a member alleges a breach of privilege, it is a matter for the Speaker to determine, in accordance with precedent and practice, if a prima facie case of breach of privilege has been established. I intend to follow that precedent. The honourable member for North Shore has given notice of the motion she intends to move. I will make a determination as to whether she has established a prima facie case of breach of privilege.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: Point of order: I draw your attention to Standing Order No. 101, which provides the honourable member alleging an infringement of privilege has 10 minutes to make out the case as well as move the motion.
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have not prevented the honourable member for North Shore from continuing to speak.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: According to the three subparagraphs of Standing Order No. 101 the matter needs to have arisen suddenly. It did. It arose in question time today when the Premier was asked to dissociate himself from the remarks made by his colleague in the other House, but he refused to do so. I believe that provides a prima facie case in relation to my fear for my safety and that of my female colleagues on this side of the House. It is extraordinary that the Leader of the Government in this House thinks it is acceptable not to debate this motion today. The Premier and this House should say, "You as Liberal women have the right to feel safe".
Ms Katrina Hodgkinson: Or Nationals.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: And women in The Nationals, on behalf of my colleague. We have the right in this Parliament to ask the Premier to dissociate himself from the views of the Hon. Greg Donnelly. This Parliament should provide me with the protection to walk out of this place.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: All women!
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: All women. No woman should feel threatened by any member of this Parliament. I believe that you, Mr Speaker, should rule that debate on this motion proceed now. I imagine that all female members of this Parliament—not just those of the Coalition—would want to make it clear that we do not condone threats of violence. I suggest that members of the Government should read the Hansard in relation to the threat of violence from their colleague and then tell me privately what they think the Hon. Greg Donnelly meant. He made a disgraceful threat to all female members of Parliament. I give notice of this motion on behalf of female members of the Liberal Party and The Nationals, but the threat is against all women, not just those in Parliament. I am astonished that at the first opportunity a Premier of this State would not say it was unacceptable and "I demand that my colleague in the upper House apologise immediately. We will not stand for violence."
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Wakehurst to order.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: The Premier has said in this House that he will not stand for violence against women. Actions speak louder than words. The Premier should come back into the Chamber, debate this motion, discipline his colleague in the upper House and say that his comments are unacceptable. The Hon. Greg Donnelly must withdraw his comments and apologise to every woman in this Parliament and in New South Wales. This is the most serious threat that I have ever heard in this Parliament—and there has been disgraceful behaviour, as I am sure the honourable member for Strathfield knows. This is a direct threat against women made by a Labor member of this Parliament, and it is not to be condoned. I am sorry? Does the woman Labor member have a problem with what I am saying? Do you have a problem with your Labor member—
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for North Shore will address the Chair.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: —of Parliament not being disciplined for making these threats? These are not even veiled threats.
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Illawarra will come to order.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: He threatened to use a scalpel. He said a scalpel would be taken to the throats of the Liberal Party and The Nationals, particularly the female members. Under the cover of darkness, when everyone is asleep, they will have their throats cut from ear to ear. I am reading from Hansard. Labor members are looking shocked—as well they should! I would be very surprised if Labor members did not think that is a threat.
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for Illawarra will come to order.
Mrs JILLIAN SKINNER: This House must debate the motion if it is to have any credibility at all when it says, "Women should not be threatened with violence," and, "We believe that anyone who threatens anyone with violence should be dealt with accordingly." I was absolutely astonished when the Premier refused to answer a question today. It would have been very simple for the Premier to say, "That was a most inappropriate remark. My colleague will apologise to the women directly, he will apologise to the Parliament, and that sort of behaviour will not be condoned by my Government." But the Premier did nothing. He made a joke of it. He thought it was funny. He made no reference to the remarks—and he knows about them, because they are reported in Hansard, and they have been drawn to his attention. He should return to the Chamber immediately. We should debate this motion. I will be absolutely horrified if any member of Parliament does not vote with me and support the debate being brought on right now, so that we can walk out of this place without being worried about a scalpel being taken to our throats in the dead of night.
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! The honourable member for North Shore has given notice of a motion she proposes to move. In accordance with accepted practice in this Chamber, I will deliberate upon whether a prima facie case of breach of privilege has been established. I will give a determination at a later stage.
Mr Barry O'Farrell: Mr Speaker—
o6Mr SPEAKER: Does the Deputy Leader of the Opposition wish to take a point of order?
Mr Barry O'Farrell: In view of the joint sitting of the upper House and the lower House at 4 o'clock to appoint a person to fill a casual vacancy, can I notify that no Coalition women will attend that sitting as long as Mr Donnelly is there and has not apologised.
[Interruption]
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order!
[Interruption]
o6Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the House will resume his seat.