Senator WHISH-WILSON (Tasmania) (18:38): I seek leave to table a document. Leave not granted. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Faruqi ): Senator Whish-Wilson, on a point of order. Senator Whish-Wilson: There's no reason for One Nation to deny me formality on a petition. There are 200,000 Australians who want a petition to be tabled in parliament. Could I seek leave to table a document? The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Whish-Wilson, formality has been denied. Senator Whish-Wilson: Could I seek the chamber's indulgence and, just one more time please, attempt to seek to table a document? An honourable senator: Say what it's about on the record Peter. Senator Whish-Wilson: The document is a non-conforming petition calling for Julian Assange to be brought back to Australia. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: On a point of order, Senator Urquhart. Senator Urquhart: Could I just inform the chamber that the documents that are sought to be tabled did go to the whips meeting on a number of occasions, and it was agreed at the whips meeting for leave to be granted to table those documents. So I just want to make it very clear that that has gone to the whips meeting, and it has been agreed for these documents, these petitions, to be tabled. They are non-conforming petitions, and this is the place where they are to be tabled. I just wanted to make that clear. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you. Senator Smith? Senator Dean Smith: Madam Acting Deputy President, Senator Urquhart is right to a point. The custom is that information about non-conforming petitions is shared at the cross-whips meetings and advice is then sought. But it is still free for any individual senator to deny leave, which, if I've understood the situation correctly, is exactly what has happened in this situation. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson? Senator Hanson: In light of it being brought to our attention what the petition is about, I am quite prepared to withdraw my refusal to allow it to be tabled. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: I will put the question again. Is leave granted? Senator Whish-Wilson? Senator WHISH-WILSON: If we could start from scratch: I seek leave to table a document. Leave granted. Senator WHISH-WILSON: I table a nonconforming petition calling for Julian Assange to be freed and brought back to Australia.