Mr TAYLOR(7.28 p.m.) —Earlier today I received a letter from a man in Nambour, Queensland, in the electorate of Fairfax. Over the last couple of days, both in this place and in the Main Committee, we have been debating quite extensively the firearm reforms. I want to take the opportunity to congratulate everybody concerned with that. I do not want to take up too much of the time of the House doing that, but I cannot let the opportunity go by without congratulating the Prime Minister (Mr Howard), the premiers, the chief ministers and indeed the Australian people. That effort involved a lot of reasonable people.

This letter that I have received reflects the view of a minority group of unreasonable people. I am very pleased that the honourable member for Oxley (Ms Hanson) is in the chamber. She should, I suggest, listen to this because these are some of the so-called supporters of what her One Nation party stands for.

I would like to read to the House what this letter said. I will only read part of it, but it is the salient part. It is headed `Treason Trials', and it says:

I have been instructed to advise you sir, that your name is in the eighth batch of one hundred (100) alleged political, judicial, administrative, media and financial criminals to be charged, tried, and where found guilty, HUNG for treason, crimes against the constitution, crimes against the Bill Of Rights 1688 . . . and crimes against humanity et. al.

It goes on:

As you would be, or should be well aware by now, this will be your last term in office. After that the Treason Trials.

I have provided a copy of this letter in accordance with standing orders to the clerk. It is signed by Mr Norm Segal of Nambour, Queensland. This gentleman, if that is the right terminology, and one or two others of the same ilk—the McNivens, the Dawnings, the Tony Pitts—who are involved in the member for Oxley's organisation and the publication of such outlandish magazines as Lock, Stock and Barrel are the sorts of people who are writing to us.

Like a lot of politicians, I have to have a thick skin. I do not want to make anybody a martyr in this matter, but I think it is about time we exposed some of these people for what they are. They are a very vociferous minority group in our community, and I think it is about time we exposed them for what they are.

Adjournment proposed and negatived.

Mr TAYLOR —Mr Speaker, I was raising a matter of privilege and was referring to some of these people and the writer of this particular letter that I received. Others may have received such a letter; I do not know. I can only act as an individual. Some of these people are absolute loony tunes and fringe dwellers, and we should expose them just as that. We listen to what they have to say, but I think it is about time we drew the line and did something about it.

A lot of these people are involved with the member for Oxley's organisation and with the organisation of the member for Kalgoorlie (Mr Campbell). Both members want to hide behind some of these people. If I were the member for Oxley, I would be looking over my shoulder at these people. I do not know that you understand the way you are being manipulated by these minority groups, and that was reflected in your speech earlier in the day in this place on native title. You talk about one nation conspiracy theories and new world orders. That is quite ridiculous. You are being driven by some of these vociferous minority groups. It is about time you grew up and knew exactly what was happening.

Mr Speaker, I would like to raise this letter as a matter of privilege. Before you came in, I provided a copy of this letter to the clerk and I seek your guidance. As I said before, nobody wants to make anybody a martyr. But I think it is about time that this particular gentleman really understood what parliamentary privilege is all about. I seek your guidance and your ruling under standing orders 95 to 97A.

Mr SPEAKER —I thank the honourable member for Groom. You raise some very interesting questions. I will take the matter on notice and report back further.