Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before we move on with further business of the Senate, I intend to make a further statement to the chamber. In the statement I made before question time today, I noted that the disorderly conduct in the Senate this morning culminated in Senator Thorpe tearing up papers and throwing them at Senator Hanson. I expressed the very strong view that such conduct is not acceptable, that senators must conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and that physically threatening behaviour will not be tolerated. I indicated that I would be meeting with the Deputy President and the leaders of the government, the opposition and the Greens to consider what actions should be taken in relation to that conduct. I have now had the opportunity to have those discussions, which indicated to me that senators from around the chamber consider that the conduct involved was highly disorderly.

At 4.30 pm today, I wrote to Senator Thorpe indicating that I intended to make a further statement at 6 pm. I also drew to her attention the operation of standing order 203, which deals with disorderly conduct. I indicated that I considered it would be in Senator Thorpe's interest to attend the Senate at that time. She has indicated to me that she will not be in the chamber this evening.

To explain the process, when a senator is named under standing order 203, they have a right to attend the Senate to make an explanation or an apology. Any senator may then move a motion proposing that the senator be suspended from the sittings of the Senate. Under the standing orders, any such motion must be put without amendment or debate. Although the procedure gives a senator the right to make an explanation or an apology, the Senate may proceed to consider a suspension motion even if the senator chooses not to attend. Against that background I name Senator Thorpe in accordance with standing order 203. My reasons are her disorderly conduct this morning. In determining not to attend this evening, Senator Thorpe has denied herself the opportunity to make an explanation or an apology.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ordinarily at this point I would move a motion to suspend a senator, as provided for under standing order 203(3). That would have the effect of the senator being suspended for the remainder of the sitting day. Given the gravity of the conduct with which we are dealing and given the time, I instead ask the leave of the Senate to move that the senator be suspended from the Senate until the end of the sitting tomorrow.

Leave granted.

I move:

That Senator Thorpe be suspended from the sittings of the Senate until the end of sitting on 28 November 2024.

I will make some brief remarks. All Australians have a right to be safe at work, whether it's working in retail, hospitality or hospitals or whether they're our parliamentary staff, our chamber staff or us senators in this place. We all know that the standards in this place need to be lifted. Successive governments in this parliament have taken action to implement all 28 recommendations of the Set the standard report. We established the PWSS, and we followed with the establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. We've also endorsed behaviour standards and codes of conduct that apply to us. We've amended legislation to clarify work health and safety arrangements in the Commonwealth parliaments, and we've reviewed the parliamentary sitting calendar and routine of business in light of the recommendations from Set the standard. In doing this, we as a government—and I think we as a parliament—have sought to make this workplace safer and more respectful for all.

Too frequently, President, as you and the Deputy President have outlined, debate in this place has turned to aggression and to hateful and personal attacks. There have been dozens of instances, including multiple instances of Senator Thorpe making inappropriate, sometimes abusive, comments towards other senators and then disrupting proceedings by refusing to withdraw. Despite attempts to work with Senator Thorpe, she's increasingly engaged in such behaviour in this Senate. This fortnight alone, the senator has been censured by the Senate, sworn in the chamber, repeatedly made offensive gestures when leaving the chamber and made comments resulting in First Nations senators from across this chamber feeling culturally unsafe.

All of that was prior to today's incident, which culminated in Senator Thorpe tearing up papers and throwing them at another senator on the Senate floor. This behaviour would not be tolerated in any workplace, and we cannot tolerate it in our workplace. We all have a responsibility for our behaviour, whether in this place or contributing to public debate. We are all elected to represent Australians and their interests, and we come together in a contest of ideas. We express our views respectfully to understand each other's perspectives and those of our electors and, ultimately, to reach a majority view about the best path forward. Ultimately, we should be working to advance the interests of all Australians. When we work together, this place demonstrates the best of our great nation, but that work requires respect for each other and for this institution. Part of that are the rules that operate in this place so that it functions in the interests of all Australians. When the foundations of that respect are undermined, we all suffer. I move:

That the question be now put.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask leave of the chamber to make a short statement that will explain the position that the Greens will take once the vote is called.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will give leave after the motion has been dealt with.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the question be put.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion to suspend moved by Senator Wong be agreed to.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—In all aspects of life there is always a time to draw a line in the sand, and I welcome the fact that this Senate has finally drawn a line in the sand to the reprehensible and repeated disruptive and disrespectful conduct of Senator Thorpe. Of course, this decision just taken relates to the incident that occurred this morning which well and truly crossed a line in that it entered the domain of physical conduct in this chamber, not just the type of verbal conduct that we have so repeatedly seen. Physical conduct towards another senator can have no place and no tolerance in this place.

But it was, as Senator Wong acknowledged, a pattern of escalating and disrespectful behaviour—escalatory behaviour on repeated occasions that showed complete and repeated disrespect for you, President, in the chair and for all fellow senators. But, perhaps even more importantly, it created a workplace environment for clerks, for attendants, for security and for others around this chamber where they too felt at least uncomfortable and potentially worse. That is why it was so important to draw the line in the sand today and to be clear that there are standards this chamber will uphold and that those standards should be reflective of what any other workplace would expect. It is a special privilege to stand in this place as a senator. We get special privileges from standing in this place as a senator, and we should respect those privileges and show respect to one another when we exercise those privileges.

President, it is beyond disappointing. It is a shameful double standard that we just saw from the Greens in opposing the setting of that standard and the drawing of the line that we had in this vote. The Greens would in no other circumstances tolerate from any major party senator—be they a Labor senator, Liberal senator or Nats senator—or, indeed, most of the crossbench—

Opposition senators: Hear, hear!

An opposition senator: That's right.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the type of behaviour that we saw today. They would be the first to call for the type of action the Senate has just taken. And there is a message in that for Australians. Senator Thorpe is only here because she was a Greens candidate, and, though she may no longer be a member of the Greens, the Greens are willing to defend behaviour that no other member of this Senate voted to defend. Not the Labor Party, not the Liberal Party, not the National Party, nor any other member of the crossbench was willing to defend the type of behaviour that the Senate has rightly just called out. I hope that Australians do not just judge Senator Thorpe for her actions today and the disrespect she has shown to the institution of our parliament but judge the Australian Greens for the disrespect they have shown to the institution of our parliament.

I hope that all senators and Senator Thorpe can reflect upon these proceedings in a way that shows the type of respect that this place deserves in the future. We should have robust debates, we should absolutely have strong disagreements in this place, but how we conduct those debates should, as per the Jenkins review—which, as the Minister for Finance, I was proud to commission and proud to work with Kate Jenkins on—set the standard for how the nation debates its differences, not demonstrate the type of disrespect that drives division in our community.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Birmingham. Before I call you, Senator Waters, I remind senators there is a gravity to this debate. Every person who speaks tonight, whether you agree with their opinion or not, will be heard in silence.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to address the decision that the Greens took to oppose the motion to suspend Senator Thorpe from this place, of which she is a member and in which, I note, tomorrow morning she is scheduled to have a private member's bill debated in her name, a bill that addresses issues of genocide, which I know we all feel very strongly about. I want to make it clear that the Greens do not condone the use of physical violence. I'm pretty sure people would know that that is our position. And we do not think that the behaviour of Senator Thorpe, in tearing up the paper and sending that in the direction of Senator Hanson, was a behaviour that we would like to see repeated. It's not a behaviour that we think is appropriate. We also do not think that the approach of denying her for an entire day the ability to exercise her vote in this Senate is an appropriate and proportionate response to that action. I want to make it clear that we do not support the action that was taken and nor would we wish to see it repeated.

I would like to add that a number of people in this place often feel unsafe in this workplace. A number of our senators feel unsafe due to the conduct of Senator Thorpe, and a number of senators in this place feel unsafe due to the conduct of Senator Hanson. Let us all reflect on how we behave, but let those of us who live with white privilege remember that institutionalised racism doesn't affect us as it does people of colour. I believe we have an obligation to think and consider what is an appropriate response in this situation. We do need to set the standard, and I acknowledge that folk have been feeling unsafe in this place, but context is important.

I'm sure anyone who was in the chamber would realise that the behaviours that were undertaken this morning came about following an attempt by another senator to exclude a different senator of colour, and it was in the context of a debate that had racially charged overtones. I acknowledge that, in a proceeding taken by Senator Faruqi, Senator Hanson has recently been shown by a court to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act. That is the context in which we have approached our response to today's behaviour.

In conclusion, whilst we don't support the behaviour of Senator Thorpe, we were not willing to support suspending her from this chamber. We acknowledge that, as a society and as a chamber, we have a lot to do to confront racism, and we must all actively seek to do that every single day.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just remind the Senate that Senator Wong gave leave at the conclusion of her address.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I just want to say thank you to my fellow senators in supporting this motion to do with Senator Thorpe. Yes, it does need to be a safe workplace for everyone in this chamber, but I cannot believe the way the Greens have now voted against this motion. They've admitted that they don't agree with her behaviour in this chamber. This is not the first time; this is continual. People must understand what has happened in this chamber.

I differ with Senator Thorpe on her policies, but it's a robust place where we must have the opportunity to discuss our policies and put them forward in whatever way we want, to represent the people of Australia to the best of our ability in what we think is right. People don't realise the intimidation I've found over a period of time. This is why I find it laughable to hear what Senator Waters has just said about my intimidation of other senators in this place, saying that I am causing them harm in the workplace. I reject that comment totally.

Senator Thorpe, when she left the Greens, actually asked to be sat right beside me. She asked for that seat there, where Senator Lambie used to sit. Why would she want to sit beside me? During that period of time—you, President, didn't know this—there were barbs and jibes and everything directed at me constantly that I had to deal with. I eventually said, 'Please move her from close to me.' No-one was prepared to do it, so I had to move across here to distance myself, because I knew the issue that was happening. I was told: 'Go back where you came from. You wouldn't know, you white colonialist. You have the privileges. You have no idea.' These were all while I was directing a question to the minister on education. This has been constantly happening here, so don't tell me that I've done anything. I completely ignored her and I was happy to move from my seat to stop the aggression and problems that were happening in the Senate. I've actually tried to behave.

I respect this chamber and what it represents. This is the heart of our democracy, but each and every one of you knows that, since Senator Thorpe has been in this place, it has been the downfall of this chamber because of her aggression, calling each and every one of us who is white colonialists who have stolen the land. That's not what this place is about, and that's why I'm pleased to see this. Something had to be done to rein in what has been happening in the chamber. There's been aggression that's been shown by Senator Thorpe to many senators in this place. I was also shirtfronted in this chamber by Senator Thorpe. I will say to the Greens: it's one of your mates, I know. You got her elected to this place, but stick with the facts, which I always try to do in this place.

This has to be a safe workplace. I appreciate the senators who have come up to me today and said, 'Are you okay?' I really appreciate that. I am okay. I've had to get a bloody tough skin over these years, and I've toughened up. But it's not about me here; it's about our workplace. We have a right to work and feel safe in our environment and not feel intimidated or threatened. That's what it's about. What irritates me is that the Greens are out there championing the workplace for women. What am I? Am I not a woman? Shouldn't I be protected as well, or is it only when it suits you? That's not good enough.

I hope this does send a clear message to Senator Thorpe. She's been given the opportunity to hold a very special place in this parliament and to act on behalf of all Australians who want clear, decisive representation with equality—it's not about race. That's what I'm here for. I reach out to Senator Thorpe and ask her to do the same. People want representatives who will do the best for all of us as Australians.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—As leader of the National Party in this chamber, I rise to make a contribution about the series of behaviours we've all seen over this parliament and the gradual decline of respect for the chamber—for the institution itself, for each other and for the diversity we all bring to this chamber. This chamber, much more so than across the way, reflects the diversity of our democracy in a very real way. The freedom to debate and discuss, to test ideas and policies for the best way forward for our nation, occurs in this chamber, on this floor, in this space more than it ever can or does in the other chamber. We test that fiercely, ferociously at times and fervently, but always we must respect the democracy that brought us here to have the freedom to do that. When that can't or won't happen then we must not fail to call that out and stand up for this institution against the disruptors, who proudly come in and say their modus operandi is to destroy this, to destroy the very framework on which our democracy survives.

The freedom that allows people to superglue themselves to trams, to march in capital cities—or, in my own communities, to get in their tractors and take to the streets about a whole range of matters—starts here. I've seen the denigration of that over time. If we allow institutions to erode and the respect for the institutions to erode, then the freedoms we enjoy not just in this chamber but outside this chamber, which are embedded in our Constitution, will cease to exist. My grave fear is that a major political voice in this country, being the Greens, has chosen to side with the denigration of the institution, to say it's okay. I think that is a threat, in the end, to our very democracy and I'm very, very concerned.

I am very glad that the parties of government and the rest of the crossbench senators chose to take the appropriate action, to reflect to the Australian citizenry that we in this chamber want to do our very best every single day we come in here on their behalf, despite our fierce differences.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That concludes the discussion.