Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I'll make three points. First, censure is about the protection of the institution. It's not a legal, fact-finding process about whether someone has done something or whether someone's evidence is incorrect. It's about us as a collective protecting the institution. That's a decision we make. The second point I will make is that it is normal practice for these issues to be dealt with at the first available opportunity. I think, Senator Canavan, you did not demur when Senator Birmingham took such an approach in relation to then Senator Rice. It was at the next available opportunity. The third point I'll make is that, whilst I appreciate people have travel difficulties, the majority of the Senate is here and has ensured that we are here for the opening of the Senate.

Ultimately, this is about the protection of the institution and what we as a collective determine is acceptable. We all have different views—that is what this place deals with—but we also have to make a decision about what behaviours are appropriate in the expression of those views and also, in relation to Senator Babet, about whether, in 2024, the sorts of views that he has articulated, which are, frankly, hateful about our fellow Australians, are something that we should be condoning as a Senate. I for one do not condone them. I commend the motion.

Question agreed to.