Senator SCHACHT (3:09 PM) —I seek leave to make a brief personal explanation as I claim to have been misrepresented.

Leave granted.

Senator SCHACHT —In question time today Senator Alston, in reply to a dorothy dix question, I think from Senator Sandy Macdonald—and I have had this checked from the tape from the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate—said:

At the same time, you might explain to the Senate why you leaked a copy of that Senate report on Telstra to Steve Lewis of the Australian Financial Review .

The tenor of those remarks was that the `you' was being directed at me.

I want to say that I have not in any way breached the standing orders. I have not leaked any document to Steve Lewis. The only person I know of in any Telstra issue over the last couple of years who has been involved in leaking documents and breaching the privileges of this place has actually been the minister himself on the first Telstra report.

Senator Abetz —Withdraw that.

Senator SCHACHT —The matter is before the Privileges Committee—

The PRESIDENT —Senator Schacht, it is not a matter to be canvassed—

Senator SCHACHT —And the answers the minister himself gave publicly in the estimates committee confirm that he actually got hold of the document and leaked it to his own department.

The PRESIDENT —Senator Schacht, you ought not to be canvassing a matter that is before the Privileges Committee.

Senator SCHACHT —Madam President, I absolutely deny and categorically refute the fact that I, according to the minister, leaked the Senate report to Mr Lewis. I would appreciate, if the minister has any evidence, that he do the right thing and put it before the Privileges Committee.

Senator Alston —I will consider that.