James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The government opposes the motion. The motion flagrantly disregards the basic principle that a person declared elected and sworn into parliament is entitled to all the rights, privileges and powers of a parliamentarian unless and until the Court of Disputed Returns declares otherwise. The Labor Party had 40 days after return of the writs at the last election to challenge Senator Nash's eligibility. It did not do so. Now Labor illegitimately seeks to pre-empt a decision of the Court of Disputed Returns on a reference made as a result of Senator Nash's own honesty in bringing her circumstances to the Senate's attention.