Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following apply as a temporary order until the arrangements for question time adopted by the Senate on 29 October 2025 cease to apply:

(1) All senators be required to attend the Senate whilst questions without notice are asked and answered.

(2) Senators may be excused from the requirements of paragraph (1) if they have been granted leave of absence by the Senate, or with the agreement of all whips and independent senators.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to 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.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 232, moved by Senator Marielle Smith, be agreed to.