Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move opposition amendments (1) to (5) on sheet 7044:

(1)   Schedule 2, item 2, page 9 (line 23), omit “3 years”, substitute “1 year”.

(2)   Schedule 2, item 3, page 10 (line 8), omit “3 years”, substitute “1 year”.

(3)   Schedule 2, item 3, page 10 (line 11), omit “3 years”, substitute “1 year”.

(4)   Schedule 2, item 3, page 10 (line 19), omit “3 years”, substitute “1 year”.

(5)   Schedule 2, item 3, page 10 (line 22), omit “3 years”, substitute “1 year”.

I do not propose to talk at length about the opposition's amendments, which were canvassed at length in my earlier contribution. Suffice to say that the coalition is unequivocal in its view that those who have broken the law, those who have been sentenced to more than one year in prison, should forfeit their right to participate in the community by way of casting a ballot at an election. We were very comfortable with the amendments which we introduced when we were in office. Given the government is seeking to change that situation, seeking to reflect in legislation the decision of the High Court, we think that it is appropriate to link the eligibility to vote to the constitutional requirement that someone who has a custodial sentence of more than a year is not eligible to stand for parliament. We think that is an inappropriate linkage to make. I will not go any further on that matter. I have canvassed it at length in my contribution. I commend the opposition amendments to the chamber.