13th Sep 2017, 5:28 PM – Senate Motions - Deputy Prime Minster - Eligibility of Mr Joyce

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate:

(a) acknowledges that there is a crisis in the management of the Murray-Darling Basin which has led to the theft of water and depleted the environmental health of the river system;

(b) notes that this matter requires urgent attention and government intervention;

(c) notes that there is considerable uncertainty about any executive action the current Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources may take because of the unresolved questions around his eligibility and possible lack of legal authority to be a Minister of State under section 64 of the Constitution; and

(d) resolves that the Senate will not consider any bills within the Minister's portfolio from the adjournment of the Senate on Thursday 14 September 2017 until the High Court determines the question of the eligibility of Mr Joyce to sit as a member of the House of Representatives, unless the Prime Minister reallocates the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio to another minister with clear legal authority to act.