68:. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, any person declared by this Constitution to be incapable of sitting as a senator or as a member of the House of Representatives shall, for every day on which he so sits, be liable to pay the sum of one hundred pounds to any person who sues for it in any court of competent jurisdiction.
140:
The question posed by s 46 of whether a senator or member against whom a suit is brought is a "person declared by this
Constitution to be incapable of sitting" answers the description of a "question respecting the qualification" of that senator or member within the meaning of s 47. The consequence is
131:
Whilst the question posed by these words in s 46 is one necessary to be determined before a person is liable to the imposition of a penalty, it is not necessary that the answer to that question be determined by the court hearing a common informer action. Indeed, there may be good reason to conclude
96:
Under the Common
Informers Act, the quantum of damages which can be recovered is significantly reduced. A person found to be ineligible is liable for a single payment of $ 200 for sitting in Parliament on or before the day they received notice of the suit challenging their eligibility, and a $ 200
145:
The result of the decision is that the operation of s 46 of the
Constitution (and by extension the Common Informers Act) requires a prior finding of ineligibility by the House of Representatives or the Senate (depending on which house the affected person is a member of), or the Court of Disputed
122:
Can and should the High Court decide whether the defendant was a person declared by the
Constitution to be incapable of sitting as a Member of the House of Representatives for the purposes of section 3 of the Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975 (Cth) ("Common Informers
162:, blogger Tony Magrathea initiated a High Court action alleging that Roberts had sat in the Senate while disqualified, contrary to the Common Informers Act. On 24 June 2019, the High Court found the allegation proved and ordered Roberts to pay a penalty of $ 6,000 to Magrathea.
141:
that, unless the
Parliament otherwise provides for the purpose of s 47, that element of the cause of action created by s 46 or by a law enacted under s 51(xxxvi) for the purpose of s 46 can only be established by a prior determination of the Senate or the House.
117:
because his family company, Goldenboot Pty Ltd, owned part of a shopping centre in Port
Macquarie, NSW, in which an Australia Post franchise operated. The following question was heard on 12 December 2017 by the Full Court of the High Court:
93:("Common Informers Act"), which replaced the constitutional scheme of penalties for members sitting while ineligible. If Webster was found to have sat whilst ineligible, the penalty under the constitution might have exceeded $ 57,200.
97:
payment for every day they sit in
Parliament after receiving notice of the suit. A twelve-month statute of limitations has been introduced, and it is made explicit that a person may not be penalised twice for the same sitting.
132:
that the question should not be determined in that proceeding, given that the same question is to be dealt with under s 47 and that it may be part only of the overlapping questions which may there arise.
150:(Cth) (through either the petition or referral mechanism in Part XXII). The penalty provided for under the Common Informers Act may only thereafter be pursued once a finding on liability has been made.
601:
806:
770:
1670:
724:
383:
1665:
1635:
318:
1655:
1650:
1640:
1630:
1580:
734:
486:
1645:
1605:
1565:
443:
1560:
1550:
1555:
1527:
1412:
872:
1522:
1512:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1487:
1482:
1477:
1472:
1467:
1452:
1432:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
867:
714:
653:
1537:
1377:
1372:
1362:
1342:
1332:
1317:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
937:
862:
852:
842:
699:
596:
555:
550:
519:
177:
171:
114:
31:
932:
927:
922:
917:
912:
907:
902:
897:
892:
857:
837:
514:
800:
760:
729:
719:
709:
704:
110:
1700:
668:
37:
The text specifies that, until the
Parliament specifies otherwise, the ineligible member will be liable to pay any person who sues for it 100
796:
791:
570:
479:
82:
811:
1625:
1675:
1660:
1620:
1595:
786:
524:
27:
1615:
1585:
1610:
1600:
1590:
663:
1570:
1575:
648:
287:
1517:
1492:
1462:
1457:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1407:
1382:
1367:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1337:
1327:
1322:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1292:
472:
219:
127:
On 21 March 2018 the High Court unanimously determined that the answer to the question was "no", with the majority finding:
638:
565:
159:
755:
816:
750:
495:
227:
694:
678:
257:
658:
622:
586:
509:
369:
261:
86:
78:
821:
643:
617:
342:
560:
206:
545:
303:
49:
converted to A$ 1, meaning that the penalty became A$ 200 per day. In 1975, Parliament passed the
765:
429:
274:
847:
591:
529:
283:
42:
23:
319:"Re Webster: Members of Parliament, Pecuniary Interests and Disqualification – A Background"
365:
253:
38:
1694:
673:
384:"Labor launches High Court action against Turnbull MP in bid to topple government"
408:
444:"Malcolm Roberts forced to pay $ 6,000 to blogger over dual citizenship breach"
248:
464:
109:. The suit brought under the Common Informers Act was against Nationals MP
46:
158:
In
September 2017, before the High Court ruling on the eligibility of
282:. Canberra: Department of the House of Representatives. p. 154.
16:
Transitional penalty for ineligible person sitting in parliament
468:
41:
for every day that they have sat. With the introduction of the
515:
339:
Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975
304:
Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975
91:
Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975
85:, a Senator whose eligibility to sit was questioned in the
73:
Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975
51:
Common Informers (Parliamentary Disqualifications) Act 1975
551:
Chapter II of the Constitution of Australia: The Executive
105:
The Common Informers Act was invoked in the matter of
771:
Australian Constitution (Public Record Copy) Act 1990
592:
Chapter III of the constitution of Australia: Courts
1536:
881:
830:
807:
2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis
779:
743:
687:
631:
610:
579:
538:
502:
113:. It was alleged that Gillespie was in breach of
63:
146:Returns exercising its jurisdiction under the
480:
357:
355:
353:
351:
81:otherwise provides". Prompted by the case of
8:
34:or disqualified from holding that position.
597:Section 75 of the Constitution of Australia
556:Section 61 of the Constitution of Australia
520:Section 51 of the Constitution of Australia
178:Section 45 of the Constitution of Australia
172:Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia
20:Section 46 of the Constitution of Australia
1596:(xviii) Copyrights, patents and trademarks
885:
664:Implied freedom of political communication
487:
473:
465:
180:: Vacancy on happening of disqualification
761:Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942
220:"Introducing the New Decimal Banknotes"
190:
61:Section 46 of the Constitution states:
1561:(v) Post and telegraph (communication)
136:Gageler J provided separate reasoning:
822:Separatist movements within Australia
669:Implied immunity of instrumentalities
209:Penalty for sitting when disqualified
198:
196:
194:
7:
873:VIII: Alteration of the Constitution
812:List of proposed states of Australia
1656:(xxxv) Conciliation and arbitration
787:Constitutional history of Australia
77:Section 46 only applied "until the
14:
1551:(i) Interstate trade and commerce
276:House of Representatives Practice
224:Reserve Bank of Australia Museum
1601:(xix) Naturalization and aliens
148:Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
1651:(xxxi) Acquisition of property
382:Gartrell, Adam (7 July 2017).
53:, which modified the penalty.
1:
1701:Australian constitutional law
639:Australian Constitutional Law
317:Murray, S (26 January 2017).
843:II: The Executive Government
756:Statute of Westminster 1931
735:Retirement of judges (1977)
442:Karp, Paul (12 July 2019).
430:[2017] HCATrans 196
115:s 44(v) of the Constitution
32:constitutionally ineligible
1717:
817:Republicanism in Australia
797:Constitutional Conventions
654:Constitutional conventions
888:
751:Constitution of Australia
674:Reserve power (sovereign)
571:Federal Executive Council
496:Constitution of Australia
432: (29 September 2017).
388:The Sydney Morning Herald
228:Reserve Bank of Australia
22:provides a penalty for a
1626:(xxiiiA) Social security
525:House of Representatives
260:270 (24 June 1975),
89:, Parliament passed the
45:on 14 February 1966, 10
28:House of Representatives
1641:(xxix) External affairs
725:Casual vacancies (1977)
700:Senate elections (1906)
1538:Enumerated legislative
715:Social services (1946)
710:2nd State debts (1928)
705:1st State debts (1910)
644:Responsible government
618:Inter-State Commission
368: (21 March 2018),
273:Harris, I. C. (2005).
143:
134:
125:
70:
1646:(xxx) Pacific islands
853:IV: Finance and Trade
679:Reserved State powers
366:[2018] HCA 11
254:[1975] HCA 22
138:
129:
120:
744:Constitutional texts
649:Separation of powers
1636:(xxvii) Immigration
1540:powers (Section 51)
848:III: The Judicature
1671:(xxxviii) Imperial
1661:(xxxvi) Transition
868:VII: Miscellaneous
766:Australia Act 1986
730:Referendums (1977)
720:Aboriginals (1967)
695:Referendum process
611:Other institutions
602:Boilermakers' Case
174:: Disqualification
1688:
1687:
1684:
1683:
1666:(xxxvii) Referral
1606:(xx) Corporations
838:I: The Parliament
503:Legislative power
426:Alley v Gillespie
411:Alley v Gillespie
362:Alley v Gillespie
107:Alley v Gillespie
43:Australian dollar
26:or member of the
1708:
1676:(xxxix) Incident
1621:(xxiii) Pensions
886:
566:Governor-General
489:
482:
475:
466:
459:
458:
456:
454:
439:
433:
423:
417:
416:
405:
399:
398:
396:
394:
379:
373:
359:
346:
336:
330:
329:
327:
325:
314:
308:
300:
294:
293:
281:
270:
264:
245:
239:
238:
236:
234:
216:
210:
200:
57:The Constitution
1716:
1715:
1711:
1710:
1709:
1707:
1706:
1705:
1691:
1690:
1689:
1680:
1591:(xiv) Insurance
1571:(ix) Quarantine
1539:
1532:
877:
826:
775:
739:
683:
627:
606:
575:
539:Executive power
534:
498:
493:
463:
462:
452:
450:
441:
440:
436:
424:
420:
413:case S190/2017"
407:
406:
402:
392:
390:
381:
380:
376:
360:
349:
337:
333:
323:
321:
316:
315:
311:
301:
297:
290:
279:
272:
271:
267:
246:
242:
232:
230:
218:
217:
213:
201:
192:
187:
168:
160:Malcolm Roberts
156:
154:Malcolm Roberts
111:David Gillespie
103:
101:David Gillespie
75:
59:
30:who sits while
17:
12:
11:
5:
1714:
1712:
1704:
1703:
1693:
1692:
1686:
1685:
1682:
1681:
1679:
1678:
1673:
1668:
1663:
1658:
1653:
1648:
1643:
1638:
1633:
1628:
1623:
1618:
1616:(xxii) Divorce
1613:
1611:(xxi) Marriage
1608:
1603:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1586:(xiii) Banking
1583:
1581:(xii) Currency
1578:
1573:
1568:
1563:
1558:
1553:
1548:
1544:
1542:
1534:
1533:
1531:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1485:
1480:
1475:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
889:
883:
879:
878:
876:
875:
870:
865:
863:VI: New States
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
834:
832:
828:
827:
825:
824:
819:
814:
809:
804:
794:
789:
783:
781:
777:
776:
774:
773:
768:
763:
758:
753:
747:
745:
741:
740:
738:
737:
732:
727:
722:
717:
712:
707:
702:
697:
691:
689:
685:
684:
682:
681:
676:
671:
666:
661:
656:
651:
646:
641:
635:
633:
629:
628:
626:
625:
620:
614:
612:
608:
607:
605:
604:
599:
594:
589:
583:
581:
580:Judicial power
577:
576:
574:
573:
568:
563:
558:
553:
548:
542:
540:
536:
535:
533:
532:
527:
522:
517:
512:
506:
504:
500:
499:
494:
492:
491:
484:
477:
469:
461:
460:
434:
418:
400:
374:
347:
331:
309:
295:
288:
265:
240:
211:
189:
188:
186:
183:
182:
181:
175:
167:
164:
155:
152:
102:
99:
74:
71:
58:
55:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1713:
1702:
1699:
1698:
1696:
1677:
1674:
1672:
1669:
1667:
1664:
1662:
1659:
1657:
1654:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1637:
1634:
1632:
1629:
1627:
1624:
1622:
1619:
1617:
1614:
1612:
1609:
1607:
1604:
1602:
1599:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1589:
1587:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1577:
1576:(x) Fisheries
1574:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1562:
1559:
1557:
1556:(ii) Taxation
1554:
1552:
1549:
1546:
1545:
1543:
1541:
1535:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1486:
1484:
1481:
1479:
1476:
1474:
1471:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
890:
887:
884:
880:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
858:V: The States
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
835:
833:
829:
823:
820:
818:
815:
813:
810:
808:
805:
802:
798:
795:
793:
792:The Dismissal
790:
788:
785:
784:
782:
778:
772:
769:
767:
764:
762:
759:
757:
754:
752:
749:
748:
746:
742:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
716:
713:
711:
708:
706:
703:
701:
698:
696:
693:
692:
690:
686:
680:
677:
675:
672:
670:
667:
665:
662:
660:
657:
655:
652:
650:
647:
645:
642:
640:
637:
636:
634:
630:
624:
623:Privy Council
621:
619:
616:
615:
613:
609:
603:
600:
598:
595:
593:
590:
588:
585:
584:
582:
578:
572:
569:
567:
564:
562:
559:
557:
554:
552:
549:
547:
544:
543:
541:
537:
531:
528:
526:
523:
521:
518:
516:
513:
511:
508:
507:
505:
501:
497:
490:
485:
483:
478:
476:
471:
470:
467:
449:
445:
438:
435:
431:
427:
422:
419:
415:. High Court.
414:
412:
404:
401:
389:
385:
378:
375:
371:
367:
363:
358:
356:
354:
352:
348:
344:
340:
335:
332:
320:
313:
310:
306:
305:
299:
296:
291:
289:0-642-78510-4
285:
278:
277:
269:
266:
263:
259:
256:, (1975) 132
255:
251:
250:
244:
241:
229:
225:
221:
215:
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