05:13

In addition to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation voting with the government, Centre Alliance’s Stirling Griff abstained on that motion.



Griff told Guardian Australia: “Motions are a conscience vote for Centre Alliance, they are never party votes. I absolutely support the Senate being given at least summary details of the Gaetjens report, but not actions to humiliate any member of parliament, as this motion did.”



Griff argued the motion created no real consequences for the government, because it would be free to appoint someone other than Mathias Cormann to represent the prime minister.

He suggested an alternative would have been to reorder or restrict the time for government business in the Senate, which he “would’ve been far more likely to agree to”.

“Sending someone to naughty chair is a personal attack. I supported the premise, but not the penalty of humiliating a member of parliament.”

Griff confirmed that MP Rebekha Sharkie agreed with his view, and that he had told senator Rex Patrick (who was in favour of the motion) that he planned to abstain.