[Greens-Media] RESEND - Bob Brown - Abetz should explain meeting with Grech to Senate

[Kelly, Russell (Sen B. Brown)]

NB: Apologies. Re-sending with correct spelling of Mr Grech's name.


4 August 2009

Abetz should explain meeting with Grech to Senate

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown says Tasmanian Liberal
Senator Eric Abetz should explain his meetings with public servant
Godwin Grech.

Senator Brown said Senator Abetz had avoided scrutiny of his role in
June when the Coalition and Independent Senator Steve Fielding prevented
a Privileges Committee Inquiry into Senator Abetz's knowledge of the
fake email at the centre of the controversy. Senator Abetz effectively
used his casting vote to avoid the Privileges Committee.

"Mr Grech has today revealed he met Mr Abetz along with Malcolm Turnbull
in Sydney one week prior to giving evidence before Mr Abetz in a Senate
committee."

"Yet Senator Abetz did not reveal this information to the committee or
his committee colleagues."

A ruling by the President of the Senate, Senator John Hogg, on whether
Senator Abetz obtaining 'a pair' for the crucial vote in fact
constituted a defacto vote by Senator Abetz, and was therefore invalid,
will be given to the Senate when the sittings resume next Tuesday.

For more information Russell Kelly 0438376082 ends

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