Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Hansard source

Senators, I will take this opportunity to provide an update to the chamber. A short time ago the High Court, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, answering questions referred to it by the Senate on 6 December last year, held that Katy Gallagher was incapable of being chosen as a senator for the Australian Capital Territory at the election on 2 July 2016 by reason of section 44(i) of the Constitution. Precedent would suggest that the resulting vacancy will be filled by a special count of the ballot under the supervision of the court. I will table the orders of the court in due course.