Lying in wait for parliamentary theatre 1 First With The News Edition

You didn't need to abolish the offence of lying to Parliament to protect cronies who may tell "porkies" but more importantly, the move will help kill the colour and theatre of Parliament each winter at the Estimates Committee hearings. Some amusing answers at last year's hearings...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Courier-mail
Main Author Coates, Stephen
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Brisbane, Qld Nationwide News Pty Ltd 11.07.2006
Subjects
Coates, Stephen
Nuttall, Gordon
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Summary:You didn't need to abolish the offence of lying to Parliament to protect cronies who may tell "porkies" but more importantly, the move will help kill the colour and theatre of Parliament each winter at the Estimates Committee hearings. Some amusing answers at last year's hearings included one by Transport Minister Paul Lucas when chided in an anticipatory attack by Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson for using "objects, gadgets and props" in his answers. [Gordon Nuttall] remains innocent until proven guilty and the CMC assessment is not tested evidence, but the subsequent, recent abolition of the lying to Parliament provisions must mean that answers given to future Estimates hearings will always be questionable. Not much imagination is needed to conclude that even this Opposition will be asking now about the truth of answers, with the distinct possibility that the hearings could break down as the point is hard pressed.
ISSN:1322-5235