The New Senate: The Defeated, The Retired, The New And The Returning

There will be 14 new faces in the new Senate when it meets for the first time on August 30.

This represents 18.42% of the Senate’s 76 members. Each state has 12 senators, whilst the territories have 2 each, who serve terms concurrent with the House of Representatives. The double dissolution meant that all 76 positions were up for election on July 2.

The fourteen new senators include two (Louise Pratt and Don Farrell) who were Labor senators defeated in 2013.

Ten of the fourteen departed senators were defeated in the election, whilst four retired. [Read more…]


Clive Palmer Announces He Will Not Contest Fairfax

Clive Palmer has announced that he will not contest the seat of Fairfax at this year’s election.

Palmer made the announcement during a valedictory statement to the House of Representatives. He left open the possibility that he might run for the Senate instead.

In his speech, Palmer defended his business interests, claimed he had been persecuted by the media, and itemised a long list of alleged achievements of the Palmer United Party. [Read more…]


From The Fringe: Sen. Jacqui Lambie’s Tirade Against Sharia Law

The Tasmanian Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie has delivered a tirade against Sharia Law.

Lambie

Lambie spoke today on the government’s National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No.1) 2014. [Read more…]


Senator Zhenya Wang (PUP-WA) – Maiden Speech

Zhenya Wang, the Palmer United Party senator from Western Australia, has delivered his first speech to the Senate.

Wang

Wang, 33, was chosen at the re-run Senate election in April, after the original poll at the federal election of September 7, 2013 was declared void.

His term began on July 1, 2014 and will expire on June 30, 2020. [Read more…]