CHAIR —I declare open this public meeting of the Senate Committee of Privileges. On 27 June 2002, the following matter was referred to the committee:

Having regard to the matter raised by the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee in its letter of 26 June 2002 to the President, whether there was an unauthorised disclosure of a report of that committee, and whether any contempt was committed in that regard.

The committee has received a number of documents as evidence as required. All relevant documents have been compiled into a separate volume which the committee has published and made available to all persons at this hearing. Is it the wish of the committee that this volume, which will be the reference point throughout these proceedings, be treated as a volume accompanying the transcript of evidence? There being no objection, it is so ordered.

The committee proposes to hear evidence substantially in accordance with the indicative procedures sent to all parties on 3 September 2002, with one exception. Ms Annabel Crabb, the journalist who wrote the article which is the subject of the committee's inquiry, declined the committee's invitation to attend the hearing, as set out in pages 39 and 40 of the volume of submissions and documents. The committee normally proceeds by invitation and thus did not press her attendance at the hearing. Furthermore, in order to accommodate commitments of various senators appearing before the committee, it proposes to call them in order as circulated on today's committee order of business. Is it the wish of the committee that the procedures be incorporated in the transcript of evidence? There being no objection, it is so ordered.

The procedures read as follows—

INDICATIVE PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCT OF HEARING

24 OCTOBER 2002

1.Chair to make opening statement, declaring purpose of hearing. [Note: Various submissions from Senators Eggleston, Mackay, Lundy, Tchen and Tierney and Ms Bourne (members and former member of the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee), Mr Mick McLean (Secretary, Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee), on behalf of The Age Company Limited, and from Mr Michael Gawenda, (Associate Publisher and Editor, The Age), Ms Annabel Crabb (journalist, The Age), and Mr Christopher Warren, Federal Secretary, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, have been incorporated in a volume of documents circulated to all participants.]

2.(a)Senator Tierney to be called and sworn.

(b)Senator Tierney to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Senator Tierney.

(d)Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to examine Senator Tierney if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Senator Tierney to be invited to make statement.

3.(a)Senator Tchen to be called and sworn.

(b)Senator Tchen to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Senator Tchen.

(d)Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to examine Senator Tchen if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Senator Tchen to be invited to make statement.

4.(a)Senator Lundy to be called and sworn.

(b)Senator Lundy to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Senator Lundy.

(d)Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to examine Senator Lundy if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Senator Lundy to be invited to make statement.

5.(a)Senator Eggleston to be called and sworn.

(b)Senator Eggleston to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Senator Eggleston.

(d)Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to examine Senator Eggleston if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Senator Eggleston to be invited to make statement.

6.(a)Senator Mackay to be called and sworn.

(b)Senator Mackay to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Senator Mackay.

(d)Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to examine Senator Mackay if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Senator Mackay to be invited to make statement.

7.(a)Ms Bourne to be called and sworn.

(b)Ms Bourne to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Ms Bourne.

(d)Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to examine Ms Bourne if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Ms Bourne to be invited to make statement.

8.(a)Mr McLean to be called and sworn.

(b)Mr McLean to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Mr McLean.

(d)Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to examine Mr McLean if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Mr McLean to be invited to make statement.

9.(a)Mr Michael Gawenda to be called and sworn.

(b)Mr Gawenda to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of Mr Gawenda.

(d)Chair to invite The Age representatives to examine Mr Gawenda if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Mr Gawenda to be invited to make statement.

10.Committee may adjourn for a brief deliberative meeting to determine whether it wishes to receive any further evidence or to examine any other witnesses.

If other witnesses called:

(a)Witness to be called and sworn.

(b)Witness to be invited to make opening statement.

(c)Chair, and other members if they wish, to ask questions of witness.

(d)Chair to invite other witnesses or legal counsel to examine witness if they wish.

(e)Chair, and other members, to ask further questions, if required.

(f)Witness to be invited to make statement.

11.Chair to invite Mr Gawenda, or The Age representatives, to make closing statement, if desired.

12.Hearing to conclude.