NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson will nominate former premier Bob Carr as a senator for NSW when state parliament holds a special sitting.
The incoming foreign minister’s swearing-in won’t occur until after both houses of parliament ratify Labor’s nomination for him to replace Mark Arbib in the Senate.
Mr Robertson’s nomination of Mr Carr on Tuesday would be seconded by his deputy, Linda Burney, the opposition leader’s spokeswoman told AAP.
Governor Marie Bashir will then sign the nomination declaring Mr Carr as the new senator for NSW.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell will be present at the joint sitting, which starts at 5.15pm (AEDT), but won’t play a role in the nomination, his spokesman said.
Under constitutional changes adopted in 1977, casual vacancies in the Senate have to be filled by someone from the same party.
Once Mr Carr is declared a senator, Governor-General Quentin Bryce will then be able to swear him in as Australia’s chief diplomat, ahead of his planned visit to New Zealand this week.
On Monday, Ms Bryce swore in David Bradbury, Kate Lundy, Brendan O’Connor and Kim Carr in their new ministerial portfolios.
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