Parliamentary Privilege Act 1858 (Tas)

Parliamentary Privilege Act 1858

An Act to confer certain powers and privileges on the Houses of the Parliament of Tasmania [Royal Assent 29 October 1858]

Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:

1. Power to order attendance of persons Each House of Parliament, and any committee of either House duly authorized by the House to send for persons and papers, is hereby empowered to order any person to attend before the House or before such committee, as the case may be, and also to produce to such House or committee any paper, book, record, or other document in the possession or power of such person; and all persons are hereby required to obey any such order.

2. Order to attend to be notified by summons (1) Any such order to attend, or to produce documents, before either House shall be notified to the person required to attend, or to produce documents, by a summons under the hand of the President or Speaker, as the case may be; and any such order to attend, or to produce documents, before any such committee, shall be notified to the person required to attend, or to produce documents, by a summons under the hand of the chairman of the committee; and in any such summons shall be stated the time and place when and where the person summoned is to attend; and such summons shall be served on the person mentioned therein, either personally, or by leaving the same with some person for him, at his usual or last known place of abode. (2) A Member of either House may be ordered to attend before the House or any such committee, without summons, in the manner heretofore accustomed.

2A. Examination of witnesses (1) A select committee of either House or a joint committee of both Houses with power to send for persons may examine any witness in relation to any matter referred to it. (2) A witness is to make a declaration before the select committee or joint committee that the evidence given by the witness is the truth. (3) A witness who wilfully gives false evidence is guilty of perjury.