Link to Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure Report

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2007 Week 8 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 2392..

1. Mr Pat Barling, on behalf of the ACT Volunteer Brigades Association, has made an application under the procedure adopted by the Assembly on 4 May 1995, for the publication of a citizen’s right of reply to references made in the Legislative Assembly on 15 March 2007.
2. In considering Mr Barling’s submission, the committee has had regard to the terms of the Assembly resolution.
3. The committee considered Mr Barling’s initial application and on 24 May 2007 requested that Mr Barling provide further information as to how he and/or the organisation had been adversely affected in the matter with particular reference to paragraphs (1) and (1) (a) of the resolution of the Assembly.
4. Additional information was submitted by Mr Barling on 12 June 2007 and following considerable discussion at a meeting on 24 July 2007 the Committee was deadlocked on whether to grant a citizen’s right of reply. As it could not reach a resolution on the matter, the committee agreed, having regard to the limitations set by paragraph 7 of the resolution on a citizen’s right of reply, that it would report that no further action be taken by the Committee in relation to the submission. At a meeting held on Friday 17 August 2007, the Committee adopted this report.
5. The Committee therefore recommends that no further action be taken by the Assembly in relation to the submission.

Wayne Berry MLA
Presiding Member
August 2007