Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

The resolution establishing the Register of Senators' Qualifications placed procedural constraints on the use of the Senate's power to refer a matter relating to the qualification of a senator to the Court of Disputed Returns. This approach was recommended by the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters and seeks to balance the need for compliance with the need for certainty.

The committee reasoned that full disclosure by candidates at the time of their nomination would better inform those seeking to challenge a successful candidate's qualification by petition directly to the Court of Disputed Returns within the existing 40-day window after the return of the writs. The government does not support suspending the resolution to get around these well-considered constraints.