On Wednesday the attorney general said in a statement that the federal government would ask the Senate to refer the Culleton matter to the high court over the larceny conviction. At a press conference in Perth, Culleton suggested there was a “dark cloud” over the high court because there was no writ for his vacancy. “Until that answer comes back, I’m not sure whether I’m going to participate in any high court jurisdiction,” he said. Prof George Williams and Anne Twomey told Guardian Australia senators were entitled to sit and vote until the high court declares otherwise or a court finding triggers a vacancy. When the larceny charge returned to the court last week, Culleton pleaded guilty and avoided a conviction being recorded.

Source: The Guardian November 02, 2016 04:45 UTC