Manager of Opposition Business

The majority voted against a motion to make an exception to the usual procedural rules (known as standing orders) so that a vote can happen. This means that the vote won't take place.

Motion text

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Manager of Opposition Business moving the following motion immediately:

That the House:

(1) notes the:

(a) Prime Minister's statement in the House on Monday this week that "Whether they're politicians, journalists, public officials, anyone—there is no-one in this country who is above the law";

(b) reported provision of a forged document to The Daily Telegraph by the Minister for Emissions Reduction in an attempt to influence the public duty of the Lord Mayor of Sydney;

(c) creation and/or knowing use of a forged document in an attempt to influence a public duty is a serious indictable offence under New South Wales law punishable by up to 10 years in prison;

(d) failure to report knowledge of a serious indictable offence is also an offence under New South Wales law punishable by up to two years in prison;

(e) Minister for Emissions Reduction has failed to explain his role in, or knowledge of, the creation and/or use of a forged document used in an attempt to influence the public duty of the Lord Mayor of Sydney; and

(f) Minister has refused to give straight answers to simple questions about these crimes, as if the public has no right to know; and

(2) having regard to the foregoing, calls on the Prime Minister to ask the New South Wales Police to investigate whether the Minister for Emissions Reduction has committed a crime.