Parliament cannot let witnesses dictate terms

PARLIAMENT does not often find itself negotiating the terms on which it will hear evidence. That alone should trouble anyone who still believes oversight carries weight.

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Paul O'Sullivan's refusal to appear in person before an ad hoc committee, coupled with his insistence on a virtual appearance only, places Parliament in an unenviable position. But the discomfort does not lie in whether one witness attends by screen or in a chair. It lies in what this episode says about the State's ability to protect those who speak and to command respect while doing so.