08:30

In the Senate estimates hearing Labor has a few strands of its attack on the idea the new candidate disclosure process requires this lengthy preparation period for the byelection.

As Penny Wong has already demonstrated that filling in the form is voluntary, so the Australian Electoral Commission’s claim that it will guarantee that nobody ineligible will be elected doesn’t quite hold.

And as Kimberley Kitching has just said “the form is not complex” – the form just goes through each part of section 44 of the constitution asking if a candidate is – for example – an undischarged bankrupt.

For the most part it’s a series of yes/no questions.

Labor’s position is that there’s no reason the AEC couldn’t simply make this available to candidates now so they can get themselves ready, although Tony Smith told the House of Representatives it won’t get final sign off from the governor general until 29 May.

There’s nothing to stop candidates reading section 44 of the constitution now, either.