Remote senate: Historic first as senators tune in for sittings online

Senators have been allowed to attend parliament remotely in a historic first for Australia. Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson attended from his office in Launceston and said the development could be a ‘game changer’.

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MONDAY marked a historic first when senators were allowed to attend parliament remotely for the first time.

The decision to allow remote attendance via a newly developed, secure program came after senators and members attending from Victoria were advised they would need to quarantine for 14 days upon entry to the ACT and was recommended by the procedural committee in its first report of 2020.

Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson tuned in from his office in Launceston with hope the practice would become the new norm after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond the millions of taxpayer dollars that would be saved in travel expenses for politicians and their staff, he said the possibility of remote attendance could open the door to new cohorts of potential politicians otherwise barred by the need to travel and spend weeks from family and loved ones.

“This is the first day in the history of our Australian federal parliament that senators and members of parliament can officially work remotely,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.

“There’ll be many senators around the country who aren’t able to be in Canberra today, but we’ll be able to do nearly everything except vote.”

Senators participating remotely were also unable to move motions.

Labor’s leader in the senate Penny Wong emphasised that the arrangements were temporary.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Rachel Siewert said her party was disappointed remote sittings had taken so long to become available and that senators participating remotely were still excluded from some processes.

History was made on August 24, 2020, when MPs were allowed to sit remotely for the first time by federal parliament. Senator Peter Whish-Wilson attended parliament remotely from his office in Launceston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Senate president Scott Ryan raised an issue that states and territories, such as Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland, controlling the movements of federal politicians and impacting parliamentary sittings was constitutionally problematic and set a dangerous precedent.

He tabled correspondence from Tasmania’s state controller to senators for the state saying it outlined consideration of exemption from quarantine requirements on a case-by-case basis.

“The powers and immunities that enable and secure the work of the two Commonwealth houses belong to the houses themselves by constitutional design,” Senator Ryan said.

“A design which ensures that the Senate in particular, can undertake its functions with an appropriate degree of independence.

Senate President Senator scott Ryan speaking in the senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

“This claimed discretion is particularly problematic on the grounds of differential treatment of members of the executive in the first instance and lack of transparency around the quality of treatment of senators in the second.

“We cannot envisage how it may be used or potentially even misused at a future time in circumstances we cannot imagine.”

Senator Ryan said even in Melbourne under Stage Four lockdown it was accepted that some people must travel to work.

“The ability to scrutinise the executive and participate in legislative activity is arguably even more critical in times of crisis, due to the extraordinary powers being delegated granted and exercised by officials and the executive.”

Senator Ryan said the problem could be avoided if health advice was developed cooperatively with the institutions concerned.