22   SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS MOVED

Mr Pyne moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Sturt from moving forthwith the following motion: That the Member for Dobell:

(1)    attend this Chamber without delay to make a personal explanation for a period not exceeding 15 minutes with respect to the following alleged misrepresentations made in the press. That during the period he was national secretary of the Health Services Union the following occurred:

(a)    on 8 April 2005, a call was placed from his union-funded mobile telephone to a number listed as belonging to Sydney Outcalls and on 9 April 2005, a credit card voucher in the amount of $2,475 was issued against the HSU credit card in his name, bearing his signature and referencing his NSW driver’s licence number;

(b)   on 16 August 2007, a call was placed from his union-funded mobile telephone to a number listed as belonging to Sydney Outcalls and on 16 August 2007, a credit card voucher in the amount of $385 was issued against the HSU credit card in his name, bearing his signature and referencing his NSW driver’s licence number;

(c)    at diverse times between 2002 and 24 November 2007, he made cash withdrawals from automatic teller machines against his HSU credit card, without producing receipts acquitting or justifying such advances, in an amount totalling some $101,000;

(d)   at diverse times between 2002 and 24 November 2007, credit card vouchers in the amount of $15,011 were issued against his HSU credit card in his name for restaurant bills, liquor, accommodation, electronics and a signed poster of motorcycle champion Mick Doohan;

(e)    at diverse times between January 2003 and October 2007, credit card vouchers in the amount of $13,809 were issued against his HSU Diners Club card in his name for 19 separate airline tickets for someone other than himself; and

(f)    before the 2007 Federal Election, credit card vouchers were issued against his HSU Master Card in his name in relation to the 2007 Federal Election in Dobell in the amount of $18,733 for radio advertising, $7,253 for postage and $13,648 for printing, none of which were disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commission as is required under the electoral disclosure law;

(2)    provide the factual basis for his statements on 1 August 2011 in the press, but not in this House, that the allegations above are a misrepresentation because while he had authorised payment by the HSU of these credit card transactions:

(a)    he was not responsible for booking and making payment for services in question;

(b)   the credit card had been used without his knowledge;

(c)    his signature on the vouchers had been forged;

(d)   another person had accepted responsibility for payments to escort services; and

(e)    that other person had personally repaid $15,000 against that liability; and

(3)    explain to this House why he did not register the payment of a substantial gift to him by the NSW Branch of the Australian Labor Party paid in May 2011, variously reported as being either $40,000, $90,000 or $150,000 towards the costs incurred in commencing and subsequently abandoning private defamation proceedings against Fairfax Media Ltd in the Register of Members’ Interests until at least 77 days after his receipt of those funds.

Closure of Member

Dr Kelly (Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) moved—That the Member be no longer heard.

Question—put.

*141

The House divided (the Speaker, Mr Jenkins, in the Chair)—

AYES, 68

NOES, 74

* Tellers

Pairs

Ms Gillard                      Mr Abbott

Mr Snowdon                  Mr O’Dowd

Mr Rudd                         Mrs Moylan

And so it was negatived.

Mr Keenan (seconder) addressing the House—

Closure of Member

Mr Albanese (Leader of the House) moved—That the Member be no longer heard.

Question—put.

*142

The House divided (the Speaker, Mr Jenkins, in the Chair)—

AYES, 68

NOES, 74

* Tellers

Pairs

Ms Gillard                      Mr Abbott

Mr Snowdon                  Mr O’Dowd

Mr Rudd                         Mrs Moylan

And so it was negatived.

The time allowed by standing order 1 for debate on the motion for the suspension of standing orders having expired and a question not having been proposed to the House, the motion lapsed.