George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, Senator Bernardi has made an assertion. No member of this chamber has indicated to the chamber that the situation he describes is in fact the case. If I may say so, with respect, Mr President, you are absolutely correct that it is incumbent upon a senator who knows that he or she may be disqualified to inform the Senate, or, in the event that a senator, knowing themselves to be disqualified, fails to do so, for the chamber to make its own determination under section 47 of the Constitution, but at the moment there is nothing before the Senate to enliven either of those proceedings. So might I respectfully suggest, Mr President, that you dismiss Senator Bernardi's point of order. If facts and circumstances were to come to light, that would be the time to deal with them.