Ministerial Statement

Senate Vacancy

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:23): Mr President, I make a ministerial statement, which was made in the other place by the Premier, on the topic of a casual vacancy in the Senate, as follows:

I rise to inform the House about correspondence the Government has received regarding the Senate vacancy created by the retirement of Nick Xenophon.

As the House is no doubt aware, Mr Xenophon has now formally resigned his Senate position.

This creates a casual vacancy and, as per section 15 of the Commonwealth Constitution, it is incumbent upon our Parliament to convene a joint sitting and vote on a nominee to fill that vacancy.

I can confirm that the Clerk of the Legislative Council has received a nomination for the vacancy from Mr Rex Patrick.

I can also confirm I have received a letter marked 'Private and Confidential' from lawyers representing Mr Timothy Storer–a Senate candidate for the NXT Party at the 2016 Federal election.

I have sought and received permission to publicly disclose the existence of that correspondence.

Mr Storer asserts rights in relation to the filling of the casual vacancy.

I have asked the Attorney-General to seek legal advice from the Crown Solicitor's Office to allow him to inform the deliberations of the joint sitting.

There will be a joint sitting of Parliament on Tuesday 14 November to consider a replacement Senator.

That is the statement from the Premier.