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Opposition Senator Dr Floyd Morris has questioned the move to establish a bicameral select committee of women in Parliament.
On Friday, Leader of Government Business in the Senate Kamina Johnson Smith opened debate on the motion to establish the committee.
Senator Johnson Smith said the caucus will seek to address issues related to gender inequity in the society.
Senator Morris questioned how the establishment of the caucus would fit with existing strictures of Parliament and the framework of the constitution, and suggested that the opinion of the Attorney-General be sought.
"Once you're moving into the realm of amending the standing orders, to make it part of the formal structures of the Parliament, you are treading on very shaky constitutional grounds," he opined.
Senator Johnson Smith responded that the Attorney-General's view of the matter had indeed been sought, and had advised that "in his view, the motion does not offend the Constitution, in that it facilittes concerns about an under represented segment in the legislative chambers..."
In that regard, she said the Attorney-General was of the view that "it could be no more discriminatory than establishing similar sessions for persons with disabilities, young people, the elderly, or religious groupings."