Faruqi, Senator Mehreen

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by West Australian Senator Michaelia Cash (Liberal), which means it was unsuccessful. The amendment was to change the wording of South Australian Senator Penny Wong's (Labor) original motion.

Amendment text

Omit paragraphs (c) to (e), substitute:

(c) notes the actions of the President in addressing the matter as soon as the Senate sat following the speech, recognising that when the Governor-General is in the chair the President cannot exercise the usual powers or authority to manage the chamber as the President would on a typical sitting day;

(d) calls on:

(i) all senators to respect our democratic institutions, including our Parliament, to engage in debates and commentary respectfully, and to refrain from inflammatory and divisive actions that reflect poorly on the Senate, both inside and outside the chamber, and to uphold the standards of the Senate at all times, and

(ii) Senator Faruqi to apologise for the unparliamentary conduct, disrespect of proceedings and disregard for the position of the Governor-General as our Head of State and conventions of our parliamentary democracy;

(e) in the event Senator Faruqi fails to apologise for the unparliamentary conduct, calls on the President to report to the Senate that Senator Faruqi has committed an offence in accordance with standing order 203 so that a motion may be moved that Senator Faruqi be suspended from the sitting of the Senate; and

(f) in light of this conduct, does not regard it as appropriate for Senator Faruqi to represent the Senate as a member of any delegation during the life of this parliament.

Original motion text

That the Senate—

(a) expresses its profound disapproval of Senator Faruqi's disrespectful protest and actions contrary to standing orders during the Governor-General's speech to open the 48th Parliament on 22 July 2025, given the senator has many other avenues to express her views;

(b) notes that the actions by Senator Faruqi to use a prop, knowing this to be a breach of the standing orders, drew the Governor-General and the Chief Justice into political debate, which is highly inappropriate and undermines our democratic system;

(c) supports the actions of the President in addressing the matter as soon as the Senate sat following the speech, noting that when the Governor-General is in the chair the President cannot exercise the usual powers or authority to manage the chamber as the President would on a typical sitting day;

(d) calls on:

(i) all senators to respect our democratic institutions, including our Parliament, to engage in debates and commentary respectfully, and to refrain from inflammatory and divisive actions that reflect poorly on the Senate, both inside and outside the chamber, at all times,

(ii) all party leaders to act within their parties to uphold the standards of the Senate, and

(iii) Senator Faruqi to apologise for the unparliamentary conduct, disrespect of proceedings and disregard for the position of the Governor-General as our Head of State and conventions of our parliamentary democracy; and

(e) in light of this conduct, does not regard it as appropriate for Senator Faruqi to represent the Senate as a member of any delegation during the life of this Parliament.