Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators, yesterday the eyes of the Australian people were on our chamber for the opening of the 48th Parliament. We had in attendance Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General, as well as the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the deputy justice and the members of the House of Representatives. This occasion is steeped in Australian parliamentary history and links back to Westminster traditions. This occasion should be respected.

When the Governor-General is in the Senate, she presides over proceedings; I am not in the chair and I do not have my usual powers or authority to manage the chamber, as I would on a typical sitting day. The actions of Senator Faruqi—using a political sign as a prop, knowing this to be a breach of the standing orders—drew the Governor-General, the Chief Justice and the deputy justice into political debate, which is highly inappropriate.

Senator Faruqi, you are a champion of respectful debate and behaviour in this chamber. You have used the processes of the Senate and its committees to reinforce the expectations in relation to behavioural standards. These standards and expectations, which you expect, also apply to you. Your actions during the Governor-General's address were utterly disrespectful and showed a complete disregard for the rules, the traditions and the customs of this place. These actions were in direct contradiction to what you expect from others. There is ample opportunity for you to express your views with a contribution at an appropriate time, but your actions yesterday were out of order.

When I was re-elected as President of the Senate, I assured the chamber that I took our rules and procedures seriously and that I would apply them with consistency, clarity and integrity. It has been suggested to me that your conduct warranted suspension from the Senate for disorderly conduct. I am always reluctant to invoke the standing orders about infringement of order. My approach, like that of previous presidents, has been to try and find ways to bring senators back to order, rather than moving and naming them. This was not possible in the circumstances of yesterday's proceedings. Ultimately, it was a matter for the chamber to determine its response, and the chamber has responded.

Further, I will not allow the public gallery in the Senate to be used to make political points, and that is why I called for the removal of the interjector. I have acted entirely in line with how I managed the gallery in the previous parliament. Sanctions for disruption by guests are determined by the Black Rod and the Serjeant-at-Arms and have nothing to do with me. A sanction has been applied in order with our custom.