Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

That is my understanding. Thank you, Mr President. Because that is subject to debate, further comment can await that. It is the tradition of this Senate—and it is an extremely important one—that where somebody has inadvertently or without any deliberation missed a vote which is crucial to the outcome that such a recommittal occur. It is a very valuable and precious tradition that we are talking about here, because it does mean that the ultimate will of the Senate, whether or not we like it, is expressed and that advantage is not taken of a senator missing a vote because, as on this occasion, the senator did not hear the bells and there was no intention on the senator’s behalf to miss the call. The senator has given that explanation and I agree with Senator Faulkner that that should be and is accepted. However, I also think that the matter does deserve some debate. We are in a new period of balance of power in the Senate and all of us must reflect on that. I will keep further remarks until the proper time in the next half-hour.