Privileges Committee
Chairs
John Norman Button
Donald Scott Jessop
Bruce Kenneth Childs
Patricia Jessie Giles
Margaret Reynolds
Baden Chapman Teague
Robert Francis Ray
John Philip Faulkner
George Henry Brandis
David Albert Lloyd Johnston
Gary John Joseph Humphries
Jacinta Mary Ann Collins
Jacinta Mary Ann Collins
Deborah Mary O'Neill
Slade Brockman
Scope
The Committee of Privileges protects the integrity of Senate and committee proceedings by inquiring into matters referred to it by the Senate that may have impeded the proper operation of the Senate or a committee.
Sequence
![Standing Committee of Privileges in session, 4 March 2001. Clockwise around table from left: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], David Johnston and Gary Humphries (obscured), Banuera Berina [Chair of the Privileges Committee of the Republic of Kiribati] (obscured), June Nelson [Executive Assistant], Rosemary Laing [Acting Secretary], Senators Robert Ray [Chair], Chris Evans and Nick Sherry. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/5fa/5fa7c4bc10e9b4cf1df3/c013-040083di-sen-ray-privileges-comm-005-in-session-4-march-2004.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges in session, 4 March 2001. Clockwise around table from left: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], David Johnston and Gary Humphries (obscured), Banuera Berina [Chair of the Privileges Committee of the Republic of Kiribati] (obscured), June Nelson [Executive Assistant], Rosemary Laing [Acting Secretary], Senators Robert Ray [Chair], Chris Evans and Nick Sherry. DPS Auspic.
![Standing Committee of Privileges, 10 March 2005. Standing L-R: Senators David Johnston, Gary Humphries, Marise Payne and Robert Ray. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair] and John Faulkner [Chair]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/a9c/a9ceb6754fe488b467df/c013-050245di-002-privileges-committee-10-mar-2005.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges, 10 March 2005. Standing L-R: Senators David Johnston, Gary Humphries, Marise Payne and Robert Ray. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair] and John Faulkner [Chair]. DPS Auspic.
![Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 10 March 2005. Standing L-R: June Nelson [Executive Assistant], Senators David Johnston, Gary Humphries, Marise Payne and Robert Ray. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair] and John Faulkner [Chair], and Anne Lynch [Secretary]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/cc1/cc1d53c71140be22b0b8/c013-050245di-003-privileges-committee-10-mar-2005.jpg)
Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 10 March 2005. Standing L-R: June Nelson [Executive Assistant], Senators David Johnston, Gary Humphries, Marise Payne and Robert Ray. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair] and John Faulkner [Chair], and Anne Lynch [Secretary]. DPS Auspic.

Standing Committee of Privileges, 13 March 2010. Standing L-R: Senators Donald Farrell, Kerry O'Brien, Marise Payne and John McGauran. Seated L-R: Senators Jan McLucas, George Brandis and Jacinta Collins. DPS Auspic.
![Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 13 March 2010. Standing L-R: Senators Donald Farrell, Kerry O'Brien, Marise Payne and John McGauran, and Cleaver Elliott [Secretary]. Seated L-R: Senators Jan McLucas, George Brandis and Jacinta Collins. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/9bb/9bba9d41d92cdb7a07b4/c013-100146-005-privileges-committee-13-may-2010.jpg)
Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 13 March 2010. Standing L-R: Senators Donald Farrell, Kerry O'Brien, Marise Payne and John McGauran, and Cleaver Elliott [Secretary]. Seated L-R: Senators Jan McLucas, George Brandis and Jacinta Collins. DPS Auspic.
![Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 November 2012. Standing L-R: Senators George Brandis, Ursula Stephens, Scott Ludlam, Marise Payne and John Faulkner. Seated L-R: Senators Anne Urquhart, Gary Humphries [Chair] and Alex Gallacher [Deputy Chair]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/463/463d08b9cb7306210610/c013-120370-02-senate-priviliges-committee-29-nov-2012.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 November 2012. Standing L-R: Senators George Brandis, Ursula Stephens, Scott Ludlam, Marise Payne and John Faulkner. Seated L-R: Senators Anne Urquhart, Gary Humphries [Chair] and Alex Gallacher [Deputy Chair]. DPS Auspic.
![Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 November 2012. Standing L-R: Senators George Brandis and Ursula Stephens, Richard Pye [Secretary], Senators Scott Ludlam, Marise Payne and John Faulkner, and Glenn Ryall [Research Officer]. Seated L-R: Senators Anne Urquhart, Gary Humphries [Chair] and Alex Gallacher [Deputy Chair]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/e9f/e9f288efbe84c022de99/c013-120370-03-senate-priviliges-committee-29-nov-2012.jpg)
Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 November 2012. Standing L-R: Senators George Brandis and Ursula Stephens, Richard Pye [Secretary], Senators Scott Ludlam, Marise Payne and John Faulkner, and Glenn Ryall [Research Officer]. Seated L-R: Senators Anne Urquhart, Gary Humphries [Chair] and Alex Gallacher [Deputy Chair]. DPS Auspic.
![Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 April 1999. Standing L-R: Senators Chris Evans, Helen Coonan, Nick Sherry and Marise Payne. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], Robert Ray [Chair] and Alan Eggleston. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/f21/f219317e6546dc494d68/c013-990269-8-13cm-privileges-committee-29-apr-1999.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 April 1999. Standing L-R: Senators Chris Evans, Helen Coonan, Nick Sherry and Marise Payne. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], Robert Ray [Chair] and Alan Eggleston. DPS Auspic.
![Members and staff of the Senate Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 April 1999. Standing L-R: June Nelson [Administrative Officer], Senators Chris Evans, Helen Coonan, Nick Sherry and Marise Payne, and Anne Lynch [Secretary]. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], Robert Ray [Chair] and Alan Eggleston. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/df6/df679f2a41016901f8cb/c013-990269-11-privileges-committee-29-apr-1999.jpg)
Members and staff of the Senate Standing Committee of Privileges, 29 April 1999. Standing L-R: June Nelson [Administrative Officer], Senators Chris Evans, Helen Coonan, Nick Sherry and Marise Payne, and Anne Lynch [Secretary]. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], Robert Ray [Chair] and Alan Eggleston. DPS Auspic.

Privileges Committee reports. DPS Auspic.
![Standing Committee of Privileges, 1990. Standing L-R: Senators John Black and Baden Teague. Seated L-R: Senators Bruce Childs, John Coates, Patricia Giles [Chair], Peter Durack [Deputy Chair] and Janet Powell.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/ff9/ff94b0bf79439f80989c/c013-privileges-standing-committee-1990-j2.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges, 1990. Standing L-R: Senators John Black and Baden Teague. Seated L-R: Senators Bruce Childs, John Coates, Patricia Giles [Chair], Peter Durack [Deputy Chair] and Janet Powell.
![Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges farewelling retiring Senators Peter Durack, Patricia Giles and Janet Powell, 1993. Back row L-R: Senators John Herron, John Coates, Bruce Childs, Baden Teague [Deputy Chair] and Barney Cooney. Front row L-R: Anne Lynch [Secretary], Senators Peter Durack [former Deputy Chair], Patricia Giles [Chair] and Janet Powell, and Colleen Cameron [Research Officer]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/5aa/5aa55db34428d8f89439/c013-privileges-standing-committee-1993-j2-2.jpg)
Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges farewelling retiring Senators Peter Durack, Patricia Giles and Janet Powell, 1993. Back row L-R: Senators John Herron, John Coates, Bruce Childs, Baden Teague [Deputy Chair] and Barney Cooney. Front row L-R: Anne Lynch [Secretary], Senators Peter Durack [former Deputy Chair], Patricia Giles [Chair] and Janet Powell, and Colleen Cameron [Research Officer]. DPS Auspic.
![Members of the Standing Committee of Privileges farewelling retiring Senators Peter Durack, Patricia Giles and Janet Powell, 1993. Back row L-R: Senators John Herron, John Coates, Bruce Childs, Baden Teague [Deputy Chair] and Barney Cooney. Front row L-R: Senators Peter Durack [former Deputy Chair], Patricia Giles [Chair] and Janet Powell. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/20e/20ec2aec24ac527cbf56/c013-privileges-standing-committee-1993-j2-3.jpg)
Members of the Standing Committee of Privileges farewelling retiring Senators Peter Durack, Patricia Giles and Janet Powell, 1993. Back row L-R: Senators John Herron, John Coates, Bruce Childs, Baden Teague [Deputy Chair] and Barney Cooney. Front row L-R: Senators Peter Durack [former Deputy Chair], Patricia Giles [Chair] and Janet Powell. DPS Auspic.
![Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges at a dinner in Parliament House in honour of retiring Senators Peter Durack, Patricia Giles and Janet Powell, 1993. Standing L-R: Senators Patricia Giles [Chair] and John Coates, Colleen Cameron [Research Officer], Anne Lynch [Secretary] and Senator Bruce Childs. Seated L-R: Senators Peter Durack [former Deputy Chair], Janet Powell, Barney Cooney, John Herron and Baden Teague [Deputy Chair]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/809/80917fc4aaedb001e9ac/c013-privileges-standing-committee-1993-j2-4.jpg)
Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges at a dinner in Parliament House in honour of retiring Senators Peter Durack, Patricia Giles and Janet Powell, 1993. Standing L-R: Senators Patricia Giles [Chair] and John Coates, Colleen Cameron [Research Officer], Anne Lynch [Secretary] and Senator Bruce Childs. Seated L-R: Senators Peter Durack [former Deputy Chair], Janet Powell, Barney Cooney, John Herron and Baden Teague [Deputy Chair]. DPS Auspic.
![Standing Committee of Privileges, 1994. Standing L-R: Senators Bob Woods, John Coates, Jim McKiernan and Chris Ellison. Seated L-R: Senators Margaret Reynolds [Deputy Chair], Baden Teague [Chair] and Bruce Childs. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/217/217f8dfe766b999ebfe1/c013-privileges-standing-committee-1994-j2.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges, 1994. Standing L-R: Senators Bob Woods, John Coates, Jim McKiernan and Chris Ellison. Seated L-R: Senators Margaret Reynolds [Deputy Chair], Baden Teague [Chair] and Bruce Childs. DPS Auspic.
![Standing Committee of Privileges, August 2002. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], Robert Ray [Chair] and Nick Sherry. Standing L-R: Senators David Johnston, Marise Payne, Margaret Reid and Chris Evans. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/dc0/dc01fb7ad0e1d8e69ad0/c013-privilieges-committee-2002-copied-from-report.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges, August 2002. Seated L-R: Senators Sue Knowles [Deputy Chair], Robert Ray [Chair] and Nick Sherry. Standing L-R: Senators David Johnston, Marise Payne, Margaret Reid and Chris Evans. DPS Auspic.
![Standing Committee of Privileges, 2 March 2016. Standing L-R: Senators Scott Ludlam, Dean Smith, Anne McEwen and Eric Abetz. Seated L-R: Senators Bridget McKenzie and Jacinta Collins [Chair]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/b74/b74dc7239a13428bf1cb/c013-priviliges-committee-160076-01-2-mar-2016.jpg)
Standing Committee of Privileges, 2 March 2016. Standing L-R: Senators Scott Ludlam, Dean Smith, Anne McEwen and Eric Abetz. Seated L-R: Senators Bridget McKenzie and Jacinta Collins [Chair]. DPS Auspic.
![Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 2 March 2016. Standing L-R: Senators Scott Ludlam and Dean Smith, Richard Pye [Secretary], Senators Anne McEwen and Eric Abetz. Seated L-R: Senators Bridget McKenzie and Jacinta Collins [Chair]. DPS Auspic.](http://103.18.108.76/uploads/998/998fcf5a4dc03ac413a0/c013-priviliges-committee-160076-03-2-mar-2016.jpg)
Members and staff of the Standing Committee of Privileges, 2 March 2016. Standing L-R: Senators Scott Ludlam and Dean Smith, Richard Pye [Secretary], Senators Anne McEwen and Eric Abetz. Seated L-R: Senators Bridget McKenzie and Jacinta Collins [Chair]. DPS Auspic.