Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

Rules for the remote participation of senators in Senate proceedings

While these rules are in effect:

(1) A senator may seek and receive the call to speak by video or audio link by addressing the President. Wherever practicable, this should be in accordance with a list of speakers provided through the whips.

(2) Senators participating remotely:

(a) may not move motions or amendments, other than amendments and requests to legislation in committee of the whole; and

(b) may not propose or be counted in support of a proposal to discuss an MPI or urgency motion.

(3) Senators may not be counted in the formation of a quorum, may not draw attention to the lack of a quorum, may not raise points of order, and may not call for or participate in a division unless they are physically present in the Senate chamber.

(4) To avoid doubt:

(a) the standing orders and other orders of the Senate, including the standing orders relating to the conduct of senators and rules of debate, otherwise apply to senators participating remotely, to the extent they are capable of applying; and

(b) the contributions of remote participants form part of Senate proceedings and are to be incorporated in the Hansard record.

(5) Standing orders that require or rely on the provision of documents to the President or the Clerk, as the case may be, or the presentation of documents to the Senate, will be satisfied by the provision or presentation of a digital copy of the document. A document provided in digital format will not be taken to be received unless its receipt is acknowledged by or on behalf of the President or the Clerk.

These rules for the remote participation of senators in Senate proceedings, recommended by the Procedure Committee in its first report of 2020, would have effect during the sittings of the Senate from 24 August to 30 September 2020. This sitting fortnight will be the first time that senators will be able to participate in proceedings remotely. This is obviously in the context of the ongoing effect around Australia of the coronavirus pandemic and a desire to ensure that our workplace in the Senate is as COVID-safe as possible while facilitating participation by all senators as appropriate.

The rules that have been agreed to by the Procedure Committee have been developed on the principle that the proceedings of the Senate are to be managed in the Senate by those senators present in the Senate chamber. Importantly, senators participating remotely can participate in any matter that is before the chair but are limited to being able to only move amendments and request for amendments to legislation in Committee of the Whole. The general principle for remote participation is that those colleagues who are participating remotely will be able to participate in relation to any issue that is before the chair but can't themselves bring matters before the chair, with the exception of amendments to legislation in Committee of the Whole.

I think the measures are well understood and I commend them to the chamber.