CHAIR (Mr Melham) —I declare open this public hearing of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters inquiring into the conduct of the 2007 election. Public hearings for this inquiry started last month in Canberra and will continue for the next several months, visiting various capitals and some regional cities. To date, the committee has received 181 submissions to this inquiry. Submissions have raised issues which the committee is considering carefully. While examining the submissions, the committee identified a number of issues which it is likely to take additional evidence on.

I would also like to thank today’s witnesses for appearing. The evidence given today will be covered by parliamentary privilege. We will also be meeting in Sydney tomorrow, and I can indicate that it is the intention at this stage to meet at a later stage in Sydney to take evidence in relation to the Lindsay electorate. It is not appropriate to take that evidence at the moment, while matters are currently before the court. Obviously, we will also use that time to receive other evidence if there are new submitters to the inquiry.

[9.02 am]