17th Jul 2014, 12:07 PM – Senate Motions - National Water Commission - Reverse position on closure
Summary
EditThe majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon (Greens), which means it passed. Motions like these don't make any legal changes on their own but are politically influential because they represent the will of the Senate.
Motion text
That the Senate—
(a) notes:
(i) water is one of our most important resources and is critical to Australia's economic growth,
(ii) the National Water Commission (the Commission) plays a crucial role in monitoring, auditing and assessing water policy,
(iii) the independence of the Commission is vital to its effectiveness, and
(iv) the 2011 Council of Australian Governments review of the Commission stated that it should continue 'for the lifetime of the NWI' and 'without sunset provision until the NWI is substantially replaced'; and
(b) calls on the Government to reverse its position on the closure of the Commission.
Votes Passed by a small majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 10 Yes – 0 No | |
| Richard Di Natale Victoria | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | Yes | |
| Christine Milne Tasmania | Yes | |
| Lee Rhiannon NSW | Yes | |
| Janet Rice Victoria | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Penny Wright SA | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (83% turnout) | 20 Yes – 0 No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Joe Bullock WA | Yes | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | Yes | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Yes | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Yes | |
| Sam Dastyari NSW | Yes | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Yes | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Yes | |
| Chris Ketter Queensland | Yes | |
| Sue Lines WA | Yes | |
| Joe Ludwig Queensland | Yes | |
| Kate Lundy ACT | Yes | |
| Anne McEwen SA | Yes | |
| Jan McLucas Queensland | Yes | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | Yes | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | Yes | |
| Nova Peris NT | Yes | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Absent | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Ricky Muir Victoria Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party | Yes | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
| John Madigan Victoria Democratic Labor Party | Yes | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria Deputy President | Absent | |
| Bob Day SA Family First Party | No | |
| David Leyonhjelm NSW Liberal Democratic Party | No | |
| Liberal National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | No | |
| Liberal Party (80% turnout) | 0 Yes – 20 No | |
| Christopher Back WA | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| George Brandis Queensland | No | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | No | |
| Sean Edwards SA | No | |
| David Fawcett SA | No | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | No | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | No | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | No | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | No | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | No | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | Absent | |
| David Johnston WA | Absent | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | Absent | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | Absent | |
| National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 4 No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | No | |
| Barry O'Sullivan Queensland | No | |
| John Williams NSW | No | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Nick Xenophon Team | Absent | |
| Palmer United Party (0% turnout) | Absent | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania | Absent | |
| Glenn Lazarus Queensland | Absent | |
| Dio Wang WA | Absent | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania President | No | |
| Totals (82% turnout) | 32 Yes – 30 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.