Senator FARRELL (South Australia—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (15:43): I have to say that I find myself in almost total agreement with the leader— Honourable senators interjecting— Senator FARRELL: maybe not the last leader—in respect to his comments and, particularly, his cautions about the way in which section 44 of the Constitution should be referred to. I would indicate that the opposition does support the referral by Senator Hanson and congratulate her and her party on making this decision, which I'm sure could not have been an easy decision. I think it's in the best interests of Senator Roberts, One Nation and the Senate in general, given the issues that have arisen around Senator Roberts' status. Senator Brandis referred to losing six senators. There is that saying by Oscar Wilde, Mr President—I'm sure you're familiar with it—which I'll paraphrase: losing one senator is a misfortune, to lose two is careless. I'm not sure when you've have lost six what Oscar would have said, but— Senator Brandis: What Lady Bracknell would have said. Senator FARRELL: Or Lady Bracknell. He knows far more about English literature—Irish literature—than I do. Senator McGrath: British. Senator FARRELL: It may have been British at the time, but—we won't go into that. But, look, I think there is concern in the community about what's happened in the Senate and, the earlier and the quicker we can resolve these issues, I think, will restore the confidence of the community in the processes that operate in the Senate. There has been some criticism in the media about Section 44, and I guess some in the media describe it perhaps as an antiquated provision. We do not believe that it is an antiquated provision. It has an important role in the operation of the democracy in our country, and we believe that it's a good provision that needs to be supported. If people get elected to this place but have not satisfied the conditions associated with Section 44, then that's carelessness and neglect on their part. This reference, I think, will start the process of rebuilding what I think is fragility in the trust of democracy in this country at the moment—and perhaps in other parts of the world—about the way it is working. So, we support Section 44. We congratulate Senator Hanson on this referral. The issue does need to be resolved. It needs to be resolved in Senator Roberts' interests, One Nation's interests but, more importantly, the Senate, and we need an authoritative and conclusive resolution to this issue. We support the reference.