From Senator Gerard Rennick, People First Party
Senator Gerard Rennick has responded to the absence of Senator Pauline Hanson in the senate Chamber to vote on the contentious and divisive Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2025 on Thursday last week.
“Pauline (Hanson) wasn’t there – I suspect she had gone home. Similar to last year where she wasn’t in the chamber to vote on the 30 bills rammed through. She has one job. To vote on legislation. She should have been there,” Senator Rennick said.
“Malcolm voted against a number of amendments that would have watered the bill down including exempting children under 14. This wasn’t abstaining.
“He didn’t speak to the bill either which he could have done by suspending standing orders. I was ready to suspend but got a speech in arguing against it. You can always get in a five minute speech by suspending standing orders to get your point across.
“Pauline indicated earlier that day she supported the bill.
“Arguing it was a sham vote is a cop out. A vote is a vote, especially on a bill as important as this. One Nation have voted many times on bills that did not get up. I fail to see why this was any different given the importance of the vote.”
“He didn’t speak to the bill either.
“I warned Malcolm I would call him out if he abstained and he did.”
