16th Jun 2015, 7:04 PM – Senate Motions - Disallowance of Instrument - Reducing thresholds for 457 visa
Summary
EditThe majority voted in favour of a motion to stop the Specification of Income Threshold and Annual Earnings 2015 and made under the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994 from having legal force. In parliamentary jargon, they voted in favour of a motion to disallow the instrument.
This motion was put into place by Victorian Senator Janet Rice (Greens), who explained that:
we believe there is no justification whatsoever for removing whole classes of employment from current levels of scrutiny. We want to disallow the minister's decision to lower the thresholds for market salary rate assessment [for 457 visas to $180,000]
Motion text
That the Instrument as contained in the Specification of Income Threshold and Annual Earnings 2015 and made under the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994, be disallowed [F2015L00569].
Fifteen sitting days remain, including today, to resolve the motion or the instrument will be deemed to have been disallowed.
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 (75% turnout) | 18 Yes – 0 No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Joe Bullock WA | Yes | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | Yes | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Yes | |
| Sam Dastyari NSW | Yes | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Yes | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Yes | |
| Chris Ketter Queensland | Yes | |
| Sue Lines WA | Yes | |
| Joe Ludwig Queensland | Yes | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | Yes | |
| Jan McLucas Queensland | Yes | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | Yes | |
| Nova Peris NT | Yes | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Yes | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Absent | |
| Anne McEwen SA | Absent | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | Absent | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Ricky Muir Victoria Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | Absent | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria Deputy President | Absent | |
| Bob Day SA Family First Party | No | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Independent | Yes | |
| Glenn Lazarus Queensland Independent | Yes | |
| John Madigan Victoria Independent | Yes | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | 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 (76% turnout) | 0 Yes – 19 No | |
| Christopher Back WA | No | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| David Fawcett SA | No | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | No | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | No | |
| David Johnston WA | No | |
| Jo Lindgren Queensland | No | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | No | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | No | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| Sean Edwards SA | Absent | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Absent | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | 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 | |
| Dio Wang WA Palmer United Party | No | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania President | No | |
| Totals (80% turnout) | 31 Yes – 30 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.