On Friday 16 June 2017, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Peter Wellington MP, made a Speaker’s Statement asking the Committee of the Legislative Assembly to consider amendments to the current citizen’s right of reply (page. 1784 Hansard: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_06_16_DAILY.pdf).
The Speaker outlined that a citizen who feels aggrieved by comments made in the Parliament under Parliamentary Privilege would have an opportunity to have up to a maximum of four years to respond to the comments that have been made in the chamber by a member. Previously that opportunity expired when the Parliament ended (normally when it is prorogued for the purpose of a general election).
In plain terms he stated, “At the moment, if a member of the public feels aggrieved by a comment that a member of parliament has made, once the Premier calls an election that member of the public has no further right in the next parliament to a right of reply”.
The Leader of the House, the Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP, moved a motion that afternoon that amendments to the standing rules and orders of the Legislative Assembly be made.
Specifically:
Standing Order 280 (Affected person may make a submission), subsection (3) was omitted and a new subsection (3) was inserted:
A person shall ensure a submission is received by the Speaker within four years from the date on which the person has been adversely referred to in the Legislative Assembly or a committee.
(page. 1835 Hansard: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_06_16_DAILY.pdf)
The motion was supported by the Opposition as indicated in a response by the Leader of Opposition Business, Mr Jeff Seeney MP and the House agreed on the motion unanimously.