Senate debates Petitions

Mandatory Sentencing


Malcolm Roberts

Malcolm Roberts Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party

6:39 pm

I seek leave to table a nonconforming petition relating to mandatory sentencing for false allegations with 5,853 signatures.

Deborah O'Neill

Deborah O'Neill NSW, Australian Labor Party

Is leave granted? Senator Roberts, I understand that perhaps this has not yet been seen by the whips of either of the major parties.

Malcolm Roberts

Malcolm Roberts Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party

The whips have seen it, and both the Labor Party and the Liberal Party have endorsed it.

Deborah O'Neill

Deborah O'Neill NSW, Australian Labor Party

We have that by report from you but not from anyone else. If you could just give me a moment to check with the Clerk, unless Senator McAllister can shed some light on this matter.

Jenny McAllister

Jenny McAllister NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary

I do appreciate, Senator Roberts, that ordinarily we would seek to facilitate something like this, but we would ordinarily also expect to see it beforehand. It may be that there is some misunderstanding. Oh, it appears we are now informed that, at least on our side, we have seen it and we are happy for this to proceed.

Deborah O'Neill

Deborah O'Neill NSW, Australian Labor Party

Senator Roberts, thank you very much. We've been advised by the Labor whip that it has been seen and approved. We are just waiting for a quick approval, I hope, from the government on this matter.

Leave is granted.

Malcolm Roberts

Malcolm Roberts Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party

I table the document.