Senator LUDWIG (Queensland —Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery) [3:32 PM] —I move:

   That:

(1)   The following matter be referred to the Standing Committee of Senators’ Interests for inquiry and report by 12 May 2011:

   The development of a draft code of conduct for senators, with particular reference to:

(a)   the operation of codes of conduct in other parliaments;

(b)   who could make a complaint in relation to breaches of a code and how those complaints might be considered;

(c)   the role of the proposed Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner in upholding a code; and

(d)   how a code might be enforced and what sanctions could be available to the parliament.

(2)   The committee consult with the House Committee on Privileges and Members’ Interests on the text of a code of conduct with the aim of developing a uniform code, together with uniform processes for its implementation for members and senators.

Question agreed to.