edited
23rd Oct 2020
Services Australia Governance Amendment Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Keep question unchanged
Passed by a small majority
No rebellions 65% attendance
12th Nov 2020, 1:40 PM – Senate Services Australia Governance Amendment Bill 2020 - Second Reading - Staffing caps and privatisation
Summary
EditThe same number of senators voted for and against a motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Carol Brown (Labor). The motion would have added certain words (see below) to the usual second reading motion - "that the bill be read a second time" - which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill.
Senator Brown explained the purpose of this amendment, saying that:
The reality is that the ASL [Average Staffing Level] staffing cap is both a cut in real staffing numbers and privatisation policy by stealth. Agencies are forced to outsource, contract out, spend exorbitant amounts on consultants and/or engage labour hire contractors to staff departments to make up for the lack of in-house resources. Too many phone calls to Services Australia go unanswered every year, and Australians waste too much time on hold trying to access Centrelink services, causing great, unnecessary distress.
Motion text
At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate calls on the Government to:
(a) abolish the "ASL offset rule", which has the effect of capping average staffing levels within Services Australia;
(b) stop the excessive use of consultancy firms and contractors to outsource important government services including Centrelink; and
(c) recognise that the staffing cap is a false economy that undermines the quality of government services, especially those delivered by Services Australia".
Votes Not passed
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (89% turnout) | 8 Yes – 0 No | |
| Mehreen Faruqi NSW | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | Yes | |
| Janet Rice Victoria | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Lidia Thorpe Victoria | Yes | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | Absent | |
| Australian Labor Party (52% turnout) | 13 Yes – 0 No | |
| Tim Ayres NSW | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Yes | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Yes | |
| Raff Ciccone Victoria | Yes | |
| Patrick Dodson WA | Yes | |
| Don Farrell SA | Yes | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Yes | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Yes | |
| Tony Sheldon NSW | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Yes | |
| Jess Walsh Victoria | Yes | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Absent | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Absent | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Absent | |
| Nita Green Queensland | Absent | |
| Kristina Keneally NSW | Absent | |
| Kimberley Kitching Victoria | Absent | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | Absent | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | Absent | |
| Louise Pratt WA | Absent | |
| Marielle Smith SA | Absent | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Stirling Griff SA Centre Alliance | Yes | |
| Sam McMahon NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
| Sue Lines WA Deputy President | Yes | |
| Rex Patrick SA Independent | Yes | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | Yes | |
| Liberal National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | No | |
| Liberal Party (57% turnout) | 0 Yes – 16 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
| Alex Antic SA | No | |
| Wendy Askew Tasmania | No | |
| Andrew Bragg NSW | No | |
| Claire Chandler Tasmania | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Sarah Henderson Victoria | No | |
| Andrew McLachlan SA | No | |
| Matt O'Sullivan WA | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Amanda Stoker Queensland | No | |
| David Van Victoria | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Slade Brockman WA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Absent | |
| Hollie Hughes NSW | Absent | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | Absent | |
| Jim Molan NSW | Absent | |
| James Paterson Victoria | Absent | |
| Gerard Rennick Queensland | Absent | |
| Paul Scarr Queensland | Absent | |
| National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 3 No | |
| Perin Davey NSW | No | |
| Susan McDonald Queensland | No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | No | |
| Malcolm Roberts Queensland | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria President | No | |
| Totals (67% turnout) | 25 Yes – 25 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.