Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business (House)) Share this | Hansard source

Consistent with the resolution of the House on 4 December 2017, I move:

That pursuant to section 376 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the House of Representatives refer the following questions to the Court of Disputed Returns:

(1) whether by reason of section 44 of the Constitution, the place of the member for Dickson, Mr Dutton, has become vacant;

(2) if the answer to question one is yes, by what means and in what manner that vacancy should be filled;

(3) what directions and other orders, if any, the court should make in order to hear and finally dispose of this reference; and

(4) what, if any, orders should be made as to the costs of these proceedings?

The arguments for this have already been well-versed in question time and in the public arena. I don't propose to add to them further.

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