Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the rules for remote participation in Senate proceedings recommended by the Procedure Committee in its first report of 2021 have effect during the sittings of the Senate from 8 to 10 February 2022.

In doing so, I do just note and reinforce to senators that this is a time-limited extension of the eligibility to participate in remote sittings for this sitting week only. We have continued to extend remote participation as border controls and other restrictions have existed around the country, but it is the wish of the government and I believe of other parties to ensure that remote participation is not a permanent feature of this place. No senator should automatically assume that it will be extended for other sittings, and we will continue to monitor carefully the COVID situation around the country and work cooperatively across the chamber to ensure that participation is available to senators but also that the appropriate place for Senate participation, being here in this chamber, is the paramount consideration in the long term. I thank the Senate.