Madigan objects to Greens phone campaign

Independent senator John Madigan says the phone campaign conducted by the Greens appears unethical and could constitute contempt of the Senate.

Senator John Madigan during a press conference in Canberra,

Independent senator John Madigan says the phone campaign conducted by the Greens appears unethical. (AAP)

Independent senator John Madigan says a lobbying campaign organised by the Greens could be a breach of parliamentary privilege.

Senator Madigan said his office received a barrage of phone calls last week regarding the government's proposed change to environmental laws to limit who could take court action against big projects.

The office logged nearly 300 calls before staff stopped taking notes and diverted the phones to the Parliament House switchboard.

Senator Madigan said the campaign, organised by the Greens, was all the more curious given he opposed the government's changes in their present form.

"I am investigating whether this is a breach of parliamentary privilege," he wrote in his blog on Thursday.

"The actions by Greens senators severely disrupted the work of crossbench senators and their offices last week.

"In the past telephone harassment of a senator has constituted contempt of the Senate."

Senator Madigan said he welcomed feedback from the community, but objected to this campaign.

He said he was concerned the Greens website had an email link to leader Richard di Natale asking each caller to report back to him on each call, including the name of the person they spoke to.

"(This) seems disingenuous and unethical," Senator Madigan said.

He has written to the Greens leader asking for the information collected about his office to be shared.

A Greens spokeswoman told AAP the crossbenchers were critical to whether the Abbott government succeeds in scrapping laws which protect the environment.

"It's not surprising that the public, our supporters amongst them, are concerned about where each senator stands on the issue," she said.

"Part of being an elected representative is listening to all views within in the community and our offices receive similar calls when we are in the balance of power on any issue."


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Source: AAP


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