Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

Just to respond to the comments from senators: Senator Martin is indeed correct; the Constitution does provide that these matters shall be determined shortly after the Senate has the opportunity to sit. That, of course, is what the Senate chose to do. The motion before the Senate today seeks to provide confirmation of the decision that the Senate undertook, which is that the process for determining three-year and six-year terms, as has been tradition and the case with previous double dissolutions, shall be in accordance with the order of election as declared by the Australian Electoral Commission.

There is no change to the process and no change to the formula. The certificates that will be provided by the AEC under this process may result in some changes because certain candidates for election have been disqualified since then by the High Court in various findings; however, the process being used is identical to that which the Senate previously agreed. This motion just provides confirmation of that process.