Clause 5

For any dishonourable conduct, abuse of privilege or contempt, on the part of a Member, Parliament may —

commit him to prison for a term not extending beyond the current session of Parliament;

impose upon him a fine not exceeding the sum of $50,000;

suspend him from the service of Parliament for the remainder of the current session of Parliament or for any part thereof; and

direct that he be reprimanded or admonished in his place by the Speaker.(2) Where a Member has been found guilty of abuse of privilege in respect of anything said in Parliament by him, Parliament may, by resolution and without prejudice to its powers under subsection (1), suspend him for such period as may be specified in the resolution from the privileges and immunities conferred by sections 3, 4 and 5 in so far as they relate to liability to civil proceedings; and during the period so specified such privileges and immunities shall cease to apply to the Member who shall be liable to civil proceedings in respect of anything said by him in, or any written statement made by him to, Parliament.(3) For any contempt on the part of a stranger, Parliament may —

commit him to prison for a term not extending beyond the current session of Parliament;

impose upon him a fine not exceeding the sum of $50,000;

exclude him from Parliament and the precincts thereof for the remainder of the current session of Parliament or for any part thereof; and

direct that he be reprimanded or admonished at the Bar of the House by the Speaker.Procedure in cases of contempt21.—

If it is alleged or appears that any person has committed any offence mentioned in section 20, Parliament may —

if the offence is alleged to have been or has apparently been committed in the view of Parliament or in the precincts thereof when Parliament is sitting or in any committee, deal with the matter summarily, and, if satisfied that he is guilty of the offence, inflict any or all of the punishments provided in section 20;

refer the matter to any select committee for investigation, consideration and report to Parliament; or

if the offence is an offence mentioned in Part V, refer the matter to the Attorney-General with a view to the institution of criminal proceedings against such person.(2) If, on the report of the select committee to which a matter has been referred under subsection (1)(b) —

Parliament is satisfied that any person is guilty of any offence mentioned in section 20, Parliament may inflict upon such person any or all of the punishments provided in section 20 and also in the case of a Member expel him; or

it appears to Parliament that any person may have committed any offence mentioned in Part V, Parliament may follow the procedure prescribed in subsection (1)(c).(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and the Standing Orders if it appears to the Speaker that any Member or stranger has committed any contempt in the view of Parliament or a committee, the Speaker may deal with the matter summarily and, if satisfied that the Member or stranger is guilty of the contempt, inflict any or all of the punishments provided in section 20; and such decision of the Speaker shall take immediate effect but Parliament may by resolution annul or vary the decision.(4) In determining the punishment for contempt by any person, Parliament or the Speaker, acting under subsection (3), may take into consideration any previous contempt committed by that person.(5) For the purposes of this section and section 29A(2), “Speaker” includes the Chairman of any committee.”.