John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I find that a most extraordinary contribution on the question before the chair from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Normally in these circumstances, if a senator is not present in the chamber and a suggestion is made by any senator in the chamber that the will of the Senate has not been reflected in a vote of the Senate, an explanation far more forthcoming than the one we have just heard from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is provided. It is true that the question before the chair is obviously in no way going to affect the recommittal of a previous vote if leave is granted for such a recommittal or standing orders of the Senate are suspended in a way which would allow for a recommittal to occur. Linking these two issues is not necessarily a matter that is of consequence. It is competent for the previous vote’s decision to be recommitted if that is the will of the Senate, regardless of whether the question before you, Mr President, is agreed or not. I think anyone who has an understanding of the way Senate procedures work would be aware that that is the case.

Now that I am so old, I can speak to the Senate as the second-longest serving senator in this place. And I have never heard in the time I have been here of a situation where we have not at least had the real situation in relation to a senator who missed a division identified before the chamber. That is something that in my experience in the chamber—which I admit is long—