Privilege claimed after raids
The Federal Police have searched Parliament House over NBN Co leaks.
But the Federal Opposition has already claimed parliamentary privilege on the documents.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) conducted the raid as part of investigations into claims that Labor staffers leaked confidential NBN documents.
The Opposition has sent letters to the AFP and the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking a ruling from both houses of Parliament on the issue.
In a letter to AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin, Labor’s Senator Stephen Conroy said he hope the seized documents would stay sealed until the ruling is made.
“Consistent with the guideline, I expect the seized material to remain in the clerk's possession until the Senate rules on my privilege claim,” the letter read.
“Note that the scope of my claim of parliamentary privilege extends to all words spoken, and acts done, in the course of, or for purposes of, or incidental to, parliamentary proceedings.”
If the bid is successful, any information deemed to be covered under parliamentary privilege would be inadmissible in court.