A senator may, by writing addressed to the President, or to the Governor-General if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant.
A senator may, by writing addressed to the President, or to the Deputy Governor-General if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant.
Drafting Notes
19.1 The section is to be amended to keep its meaning consistent with that of the current section. Presently the section requires resignations by senators to be given in writing to presiding officer in the Senate. Since by virtue of proposed s.59A(i) that will become the Deputy Governor-General of Parliament rather than the President of the Senate, the amendment requires resignations to be given to the Deputy Governor-General. Note that proposed s.60B(2)(ii) provides for what may be done in the absence of the Governor-General or Deputy, so resignations will still be possible notwithstanding absences. A similar change is to be made to s.21. Both changes are consistent with those to be made to s.37.
Current Constitution
A senator may, by writing addressed to the President, or to the Governor-General if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant.
A senator may, by writing addressed to the President, or to the Deputy Governor-General if there is no President or if the President is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant.
Drafting Notes
19.1 The section is to be amended to keep its meaning consistent with that of the current section. Presently the section requires resignations by senators to be given in writing to presiding officer in the Senate. Since by virtue of proposed s.59A(i) that will become the Deputy Governor-General of Parliament rather than the President of the Senate, the amendment requires resignations to be given to the Deputy Governor-General. Note that proposed s.60B(2)(ii) provides for what may be done in the absence of the Governor-General or Deputy, so resignations will still be possible notwithstanding absences. A similar change is to be made to s.21. Both changes are consistent with those to be made to s.37.
