Report

1.1On 8 December 2025, the President of the Senate, Senator the Honourable Sue Lines, received a submission from Ms Andrea Selvey seeking redress under the resolution of the Senate of 25 February 1988 relating to the protection of persons referred to in the Senate (Privilege Resolution 5).

1.2The submission referred to a speech made by Senator Whitten in the Senate on 28 October 2025. The President accepted the submission and referred it to the Committee of Privileges.

1.3The committee met and, pursuant to paragraph (3) of Privilege Resolution 5, decided to consider the submission. The terms of the response, which the committee now recommends for incorporation in Hansard, have been agreed to by Ms Selvey and the committee in accordance with Resolution 5(7)(b).

1.4The committee draws attention to paragraph 5(6) of the resolution which requires that, in considering a submission under this resolution and reporting to the Senate, the committee shall not consider or judge the truth of any statements made in the Senate or in the submission.

1.5The committee recommends: That a response by Ms Andrea Selvey in the terms specified in Appendix 1, be incorporated in Hansard.

Senator the Hon Jane Hume
Chair

Submission Seeking a Citizens Right of Reply

Pursuant to Senate Privilege Resolution 5(7)(b), agreed to 25 February 1988

Reply to comments made by Senator Whitten on 28 October 2025

I respectfully seek the opportunity to respond to statements made by Senator Whitten during a speech delivered in the Senate on 28 October 2025.

Within my community, the content and context of these remarks have clearly identified me in my capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River. The statements have adversely affected my personal and professional reputation and have undermined the confidence and trust placed in my integrity, impartiality and professionalism.

The following examples illustrate the comments that have caused harm:

1. That public officers embedded a wind farm into the Shire’s corporate plan and then outsourced the project directly to their own private not‐for‐profit incorporation.
2. That officers exploited their roles in public office to provide AMRCCE with public policy and public funding.
3. That the Shire outsourced the wind farm to bypass obligations that would otherwise apply to a government body.
4. The statement “birds of a corrupt feather work out how to make profit together.”

These remarks have caused personal distress and reputational damage. I therefore request that my response be incorporated into the official parliamentary record to correct the public record and to afford me natural justice, consistent with the intent of the Senate’s citizen’s right of reply procedure.

This request is made in good faith and in accordance with the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that citizens who are adversely referred to in parliamentary proceedings are provided with a fair and reasonable opportunity to respond.

I would be pleased to provide any further information or clarification that may assist in the consideration of this request.

Yours sincerely
Andrea Selvey
Chief Executive Officer