Privileges Committee
The Privileges Committee is a Standing Committee of Parliament. In the 18th Parliament, certain matters of privilege, detailed below, were referred to the Committee for inquiry. The Committee presented its Report to Parliament on 16 December 2008. As this is a Standing Committee, new matters can be referred to the Committee at any time, so whilst the Committee has completed its inquiry into the matters that were in 2008 referred to it, the Committee continues in existence, although it will not resume regular meetings unless and until further matters are referred to it.
No matters have yet been referred to the Privileges Committee in the 20th Parliament.
Members of the Committee
Hon Roland Kun MP
Hon Milton Dube MP
Hon Baron Waqa MP
Hon Sprent Dabwido MP
Hon Dominic Tabuna MP
Matters referred to the Committee
On 15 July 2008 a motion was passed by the House to demand apologies for perceived misconduct from the Member for Ubenide, Hon David Adeang MP. As no aoplogies were forthcoming, later in the same sitting a motion to suspend the member was moved by Hon Mathew Batsiua and seconded by Hon Sprent Dabwido. The motion was passed by the House. The motion read in part as follows:
[That] the Member for Ubenide, Hon David Adeang MP, be suspended immediately for an indefinite period, until he tenders three separate unconditional apologies in writing to the Speaker, to the House and to the Minister for Health and that all apologies tendered must be to the satisfaction of the aggrieved parties.
Following the passage of the motion to suspend the Member and the order for him to withdraw from the Chamber, the Member refused to withdraw, necessitating the suspension of the sitting and the entry into the Chamber by police to escort the suspended Member out.
On the same day, following the resumption of the sitting, Hon David Adeang forced his way into the Parliamentary Chamber by entering through the door from the Speaker’s office. The Speaker suspended the sitting and asked the police to escort Hon Adeang from the Chamber.
The first meeting of the Committee of Privileges of the 18th Parliament was held on 16th July 2008. On the same day, the Committee was referred a subject for inquiry which resulted from the abovementioned actions of the suspended member, Hon David Adeang MP. During the sitting of Parliament on 16th July the Hon Speaker of Parliament made the following statement:
Honourable Members, I must express my deepest disappointment towards the action by the Hon Member for Ubenide, namely Mr. David Adeang, during yesterday’s sitting dated 15 July 2008. Firstly he disobeyed a resolution of the House, suspension that disallowed him entry to all entrances of Parliament House precincts.
Secondly, the grave disorderly conduct whereby being unable to enter the Chamber through the main doors he then forcibly entered the Speaker’s private chamber in order to make his way into the Members’ Chamber.
This disorderly conduct warrants an investigation by the Committee of Privileges. It also warrants an investigation by the Clerk of Parliament if there is any criminal conduct caused by the Member for Ubenide under the Parliamentary Act. Thank you.
Immediately following the Speaker’s statement, His Excellency the President Marcus Stephen moved a motion to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges, which was seconded by Hon Dr Kieren Keke and duly passed.
On 17th July 2008 the suspended member, Hon David Adeang, again entered the Parliamentary Chamber, during Parliament’s deliberation on the Appropriation Bill 2008-2009. A motion referring this matter to the Committee of Privileges was again proposed by His Excellency the President and seconded by Hon Dr. Kieren Keke, MP The motion read as follows:
Mr. Speaker, keeping in view the entry of the suspended Member for Ubenide, Hon David Adeang, today, I wish to move that this matter be also referred to the Committee of Privileges and the first inquiry be made as an open-ended inquiry to cover all the matters concerning this case.
This matter also was referred by the Hon Speaker to the Committee of Privileges under the provisions of Standing Order 84.
Report