Appendix A


Rules for the remote participation of senators in Senate proceedings

  1. The President and Deputy President may jointly determine that the system for remote participation in Senate proceedings should be made available to senators on specified days to enable them to participate in Senate proceedings while they are prevented from physically attending the Senate because of COVID-19 related:
    • travel restrictions,
    • quarantine requirements, or
    • personal health advice
  2. Determinations under paragraph (1) will be made in writing after consultation with senators, and these rules will apply on any sitting day for which such a determination is made and published.
  3. Senators participating remotely must connect from an electorate office or Commonwealth Parliamentary Office, unless the President and Deputy President determine that the requirement should be waived because of COVID-related travel restrictions, quarantine requirements or health advice.
  4. While these rules are in effect, a senator may seek and receive the call to speak by video or audio link by addressing the President. Wherever practicable, this should be in accordance with a list of speakers provided through the whips.
  5. Senators participating remotely:
    1. may not move motions or amendments, other than amendments and requests to legislation in committee of the whole; and
    2. may not propose or be counted in support of a proposal to discuss an MPI or urgency motion.
  6. Senators may not be counted in the formation of a quorum, may not draw attention to the lack of a quorum, may not raise points of order, and may not call for or participate in a division unless they are physically present in the Senate chamber.
  7. To avoid doubt:
    1. the standing orders and other orders of the Senate, including the standing orders relating to the conduct of senators and rules of debate, otherwise apply to senators participating remotely, to the extent they are capable of applying; and
    2. the contributions of remote participants form part of Senate proceedings and are to be incorporated in the Hansard record.
  8. Standing orders that require or rely on the provision of documents to the President or the Clerk, as the case may be, or the presentation of documents to the Senate, will be satisfied by the provision or presentation of a digital copy of the document. A document provided in digital format will not be taken to be received unless its receipt is acknowledged by or on behalf of the President or the Clerk.