MOTIONS › Independent Inquiry into Sexual Assault Allegations
Senator DUNIAM (Tasmania—Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Assistant Minister for Industry Development) (16:53): The government would like to split the motion, having part (1)(a) considered separately from part (1)(b) and part (2). In doing so, I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator DUNIAM: The Senate notes the sentiments and concerns of those who marched yesterday and signed related petitions. That's why, since 2013, the government has committed more than $1 billion to reduce violence against women and children and is working on the next national plan. Along with other measures to support staff, we've appointed the Sex Discrimination Commissioner to conduct an independent review into the workplaces of parliamentarians and their staff. Politicians, like all Australians, have the right to the presumption of innocence, and we cannot support a dangerous precedent to stand down an individual merely on the basis of an allegation. The PRESIDENT: According to the request, I'm first going to put clause (1)(a), and then I'll separately put (1)(b) and (2), although it's worded in a way that makes that difficult. But I imagine that can be made on the run. Senator Waters: I seek some clarification on which bits—you want (1) and (b)(ii), is that right? The PRESIDENT: The government has asked that clause (1)(a) be treated separately from clause (1)(b) and (2). The only hassle is that the covering clause of (1) says 'That the Senate'. I will just assume that can stand regardless of what happens. So, we are dealing with clause (1)(a)(i), (ii) and (iii), and then we'll deal with clauses (1)(b) and (2). So the question is that clause (1)(a) of motion No. 1064 be agreed to. Question agreed to. The PRESIDENT: The question is that clauses (1)(b) and (2) of motion No. 1064 be agreed to.