21Suspension and removal from office

21 Suspension and removal from office

(1) A member shall not be removed from office except as provided by this section. (2) The Governor‑General may suspend a member from office on the ground of misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity. (3) Where the Governor‑General suspends a member from office, the Minister shall cause a statement of the ground of the suspension to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 7 sitting days of the House after the suspension. (4) Where such a statement has been laid before a House of the Parliament, that House may, within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which the statement has been laid before it, by resolution, declare that the member should be restored to office and, if each House so passes a resolution, the Governor‑General shall terminate the suspension. (5) If, at the expiration of 15 sitting days of a House of the Parliament after the day on which the statement has been laid before that House, that House has not passed such a resolution, the Governor‑General may remove the member from office. (6) If a member:

(a) becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with his or her creditors or makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of those creditors;

(b) fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the member’s obligations under section 17;

(c) being a full‑time member, engages in any paid employment outside the duties of the office of the member; or

(d) being a member appointed as a part‑time member, engages in any paid employment that, in the opinion of the Minister, conflicts with the proper performance of the functions of the member;

the Governor‑General shall remove the member from office. (8) A member who is suspended from office under this section is not entitled to be paid any remuneration or allowances in respect of the period of that suspension unless the member is restored to office.