Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I don't debate the merits of this motion. I'm not going to go into those in detail. Others have made their cases. I do have a point about process that I would like to make briefly. My understanding is Senator Thorpe is not here at the moment and, without foreshadowing the Notice Paper, I think we will have a similar situation next.

A censure motion should be one of the more serious processes and motions we debate in this chamber. I think we diminish and reduce its seriousness by calling on this debate at a time when the senator in question is not even here to be provided with a right of reply or to provide a defence. I think we're cheapening this measure here by doing it in this way. I support the motion the government is putting forward, but I also absolutely support the right of my colleague Senator Thorpe to be in the chamber to hear the arguments against her and to be in the chamber to respond to those arguments, if she so chooses to. But that right has been denied her, because the government has brought this on in what can only be described as a kangaroo-court fashion where the defendant is not even here to defend herself. That process should be condemned, and I hope there is not a precedent being set in this place where we do not treat our colleagues with respect.

There is no doubt that the conduct of Senator Thorpe has been widely condemned across our society, and I think it was regrettable that what should have been a special moment for many Australians was diminished by her conduct, but we ourselves don't correct that sin by not upholding proper standards of process in this place. I believe the Leader of the Government is to get up here, and maybe she could respond to my points about why the government has brought this on without allowing a Senate colleague to defend themselves on a motion of this seriousness.