edited
7th Oct 2014
Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011 - Third Reading - Read a third time
Passed by a modest majority
No rebellions 68% attendance
4th Jul 2011 – Senate Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011 - In Committee - Apply to people outside detention
Summary
EditThe majority voted against an amendment proposed by Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash.
This amendment aimed to broaden the scope of the Bill to apply to people outside of immigration detention. This would mean that non-citizens outside immigration detention would be impacted by this legislation and could have their visa refused if convicted of an offence.
Background of the bill
This bill amends the Migration Act 1958 to enable the minister to refuse to grant, or to cancel, a visa or temporary safe haven visa when a person has been convicted of a criminal offence:
- while in immigration detention
- during an escape from immigration detention
- following an escape from immigration detention, or
- for escaping from immigration detention.
It also increases the penalty for the manufacture, possession, use or distribution of weapons by immigration detainees from three to five years imprisonment.
The bill was introduced in response to protests at the Christmas Island Immigration Centre in March 2011 and the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in April 2011.
Votes Not passed by a small majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 9 No | |
| Bob Brown Tasmania | No | |
| Richard Di Natale Victoria | No | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | No | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | No | |
| Christine Milne Tasmania | No | |
| Lee Rhiannon NSW | No | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | No | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | No | |
| Penny Wright SA | No | |
| Australian Labor Party (80% turnout) | 0 Yes – 24 No | |
| Mark Arbib NSW | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | No | |
| Mark Bishop WA | No | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | No | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | No | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | No | |
| Trish Crossin NT | No | |
| John Faulkner NSW | No | |
| David Feeney Victoria | No | |
| Mark Furner Queensland | No | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | No | |
| Joe Ludwig Queensland | No | |
| Kate Lundy ACT | No | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | No | |
| Anne McEwen SA | No | |
| Jan McLucas Queensland | No | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | No | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | No | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Matt Thistlethwaite NSW | No | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | No | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Absent | |
| Chris Evans WA | Absent | |
| Don Farrell SA | Absent | |
| Nick Sherry Tasmania | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | Yes | |
| John Madigan Victoria Democratic Labor Party | Yes | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania Deputy President | Yes | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | No | |
| Liberal Party (74% turnout) | 20 Yes – 0 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Yes | |
| Judith Adams WA | Yes | |
| Christopher Back WA | Yes | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | Yes | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Yes | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | Yes | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Yes | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Yes | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | Yes | |
| Sean Edwards SA | Yes | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | Yes | |
| David Fawcett SA | Yes | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | Yes | |
| Mary Fisher SA | Yes | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | Yes | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | Yes | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Yes | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | Yes | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Yes | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | Yes | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | Absent | |
| Helen Coonan NSW | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Absent | |
| David Johnston WA | Absent | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | Absent | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | Absent | |
| National Party (100% turnout) | 5 Yes – 0 No | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | Yes | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | Yes | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | Yes | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | Yes | |
| John Williams NSW | Yes | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | Absent | |
| Totals (82% turnout) | 28 Yes – 34 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.