Vic: Delahunty faces ejection from parliament over document

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2000
Vic: Delahunty faces ejection from parliament over document

Embattled Victorian Education Minister MARY DELAHUNTY faces a worst-case scenario of
being thrown out of parliament if an allegation is proved she misled the house.

Opposition education spokesman PHIL HONEYWOOD says the Liberal Party has written to
Speaker ALEX ANDRIANOPOULOS, seeking to have the matter referred to the Privileges Committee.

Mr HONEYWOOD says the Privileges Committee can recommend that a member of parliament
be thrown out and stripped of their parliamentary status.

For two successive days the opposition has accused Ms DELAHUNTY of misleading parliament.

Yesterday, she failed to initially table the full document that she used to answer
a question on consultants engaged by the education department.

In a personal explanation to the house last night, Ms DELAHUNTY admitted to separating
one page from the two-page document but said she had no intention of misleading the house.

She then tabled the missing sheet.

If the speaker decides there is a prima facie against Ms DELAHUNTY, parliament will
debate whether the issue should go to the all-party Privileges Committee.

AAP RTV tsc/jd/gp/jn n

KEYWORD: DOCUMENT (MELBOURNE)

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