PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Senate Inquiry, Hearing Program 4th Nov 2011
Old 8th May 2013, 06:43
  #1781 (permalink)  
4dogs
 
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Smile SUNNIE, don't think so!

Actually Sunnie, my understanding is that the Report is still in draft awaiting sign-off by the Committee members. The release of anything in hard copy that is closely related to the final Report outside the Committee and their Parliamentary staff would be a breach of Senate privilege. Such a breach is right up there in the seriousness stakes in terms of members and their staff, so everything is very, very closely held!

Undoubtedly, there will be conversations within the walls of APH, but even they will be carefully controlled as they are also a breach of privilege if they involve non-Committee members.

There is no "interested parties" process as has been suggested. Those in the tunnel looking at the light won't know the consequences in detail until we all know - at the point that the Report is tabled and becomes part of the Parliamentary record.

For those who are hoping this will be like the Sermon from the Mount, you will be disappointed. Not because the Report won't lift the lid on some vexing matters, but because all we actually get is a Report. The Senate cannot initiate any action, it can only recommend.

As we saw with the Pilot Training Inquiry, the Government can just kiss it all off and do absolutely nothing. The one thing it cannot do is expunge the Report from the Parliamentary record. It will remain there forever as political ammunition and, in this case I'm sure, as the starting point for a lot of activity in Estimates.

One step at a time...

Stay Alive,
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