58.- 1. Without prejudice to any provision made by Parliament relating to the powers, privileges and immunities of Parliament and its committees, or the privileges and immunities of the members and officers of either House of Parliament and of other persons concerned in the business of Parliament or its committees, no civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against any member of either House of Parliament for words spoken before, or written in a report to, the House of Parliament of which he is a member or a committee thereof or any joint committee of the Senate and the House or by reason of any matter or thing brought by him therein by petition, bill, resolution, motion or otherwise.

2. References in this section to a member of a House of Parliament include references to any person who is a member of the House by virtue of holding the office of Speaker or by virtue of holding or acting in the office of Attorney-General.

3. Where the Attorney-General or a Minister takes part in the proceedings of the Senate in accordance with a request made under section 34 or, as the case may be, under section 35 of this Constitution, and gives explanations in the Senate pursuant to those sections, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall apply in relation to the Attorney-General or, as the case may be, to that Minister as they apply in relation to a member of the Senate.

4. Where a Minister takes part in the proceedings of the House in accordance with a request under section 37 of this Constitution and gives explanations in the House pursuant to that section, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall apply in relation to that Minister as they apply in relation to a member of the House.