Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

This motion is nothing but a juvenile stunt, and I'm surprised that Senator Wong, as someone with the experience she has had in this chamber, would allow this motion to see the light of day. Senators are constitutionally required to attend sittings, but they should not be ordered to attend in the same way as members of the executive or witnesses. Further, the Senate's disciplinary powers over its own members are exercised through various methods, such as suspensions, censure motions or privileges proceedings, not by ordering attendance.

Senator Marielle Smith seems to have also overlooked circumstances where senators may need to be absent from the chamber for urgent personal or medical reasons, which do not require a leave of absence, without getting the permission of all Independent senators and whips. The motion is embarrassing. The attendance of non-executive senators is governed by the Constitution, not by coercive orders of the Senate. The coalition strongly opposes it.