Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 2:35 to 4:58
The Chair makes a statement expressing support for Dr. Helen Haines following a recent attack, noting that the committee will suspend briefly to allow members to attend statements in the House.
Topics: Public safety, Integrity
Speakers: Senator Glenn Sterle, Hon Anthony Chisholm, Mr. Jim Betts
to answer a question for the first time should state their full name and the capacity in which you appear. Now before I go to the official welcomings, I'm also going to make a quick statement. Um I'd like to speak on behalf of the committee and sending our thoughts to our colleague, the member for Indi, Dr. Helen Haines, MP, her family, her team, and her community as she continues to recover in hospital. The attack against Dr. Haines on Monday last week was horrific and I know we have all come back to this place distressed and in shock at what has happened to our colleague and our Dr. Haines is much loved as a colleague here as a strong advocate for her community back in Indai and indeed around the nation as a fierce participant in our democracy. Contributions will be made in the House of Representatives today from 10:00 a.m. and the committee will suspend before 10:00 a.m. to enable senators to attend the first of these statements as a mark of respect for Dr. Haines. I note investigations are underway by Victoria Police, the AFP and AIO and I ask senators to please be mindful of this during these hearings and I know this committee will follow that. Dr. Haines is known to all of us as a person of integrity and someone who conducts public debate in a robust but respectful manner. As chair, I will be especially taking this spirit on board through our hearings and I'm sure my fellow senators will join me in this. >> Thank you colleagues. I now welcome Senator the Honorable Anthony Chisum, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government. Minister, do you wish to make an opening statement?
>> Uh, I don't. Thanks, Chair. Good to be here. But, uh, thank you for those words about Helen Haines and echo those sentiments as well.
>> Thank you, Minister. I welcome Mr. Jim Betts, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport, and the Arts. Mr. Betts, do you wish to make an opening statement?
>> Uh, no, thank you, Chair, but I too echo those sentiments. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Betts. I'll now call officers from the department in relation to corporate matters and invite questions. Senator McKenzie.