Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Clearly these questions are best directed to the Prime Minister. I have no personal engagement with them other than in a general sense. I am happy to say that the Prime Minister has dealt with these issues. I am pleased to say that the Labor Party, in seeking to replace Senator Arbib in this chamber and fill his very big shoes, has gone out and tried to engage with its membership to attract the best possible candidates. I am pleased to say that the discussion so far has been focused on a range of very high-quality candidates who would make a real contribution to the Senate and to the government if they were to come forward as the replacement senator. But that is a question that will be determined by the New South Wales Labor Party in the normal course of events. Formally, it will be a decision of the New South Wales parliament, as I understand it.

Mr Carr would obviously be an outstanding candidate, but he has ruled himself out. There are other candidates such as Mr Mundine and others who are putting forward their names. As I said, I am encouraged by the quality of candidates. The Labor Party is in the process of selecting a quality candidate. Once that decision has been made, they will replace Senator Arbib in the Senate, provided normal constitutional conventions are observed by the New South Wales government. I assume they will be. I know we will get a quality representative to replace Senator Arbib and that they will make a contribution to the government and to the Senate.