Summary

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The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, which means it was rejected.

Senator Nettle explains that this amendment adds to the list of things that the National Health and Medical Research Council must consider when making a decision about granting licences to people who wish to do stem cell research. It adds: "the capacity of any scientific advances to be delivered through the public health system and or to reduce the global disease burden."(Read Senator Nettle's full explanation of this amendment and the surrounding debate here after 1:24 pm. )

Due to the sensitive subject matter of this bill, the parties have agreed to allow it to be a free vote.(Read more about what a free vote is in our FAQ Section. More information about the decision to have a free vote on this bill is available on ABC News here. )

Background to the bill

The bill was introduced to amend the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 and Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002. The amendments will permit certain human embryo research under licence but retain existing prohibitions on human reproductive cloning and other assisted reproductive technology activities.(Read information about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum and bills digest, here. ) For example, it proposes to allow for therapeutic cloning.(Read more about therapeutic cloning here. )

The amendments are based on recommendations by the Lockhart Review.(Read more about the Lockhart Review and the federal government’s response in the bills digest.)

References

Votes Not passed by a large majority

Nobody rebelled against their party.

Party Votes
Australian Democrats (100% turnout) 4 Yes 0 No
Lyn Allison Victoria Yes
Andrew Bartlett Queensland Yes
Andrew Murray WA Yes
Natasha Stott Despoja SA Yes
Australian Greens (75% turnout) 3 Yes 0 No
Bob Brown Tasmania Yes
Kerry Nettle NSW Yes
Rachel Siewert WA Yes
Christine Milne Tasmania Absent
Australian Labor Party (85% turnout) 2 Yes 21 No
Carol Brown Tasmania Yes
Steve Hutchins NSW Yes
Mark Bishop WA No
Kim Carr Victoria No
Trish Crossin NT No
Chris Evans WA No
John Faulkner NSW No
Annette Hurley SA No
Linda Kirk 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
Kerry O'Brien Tasmania No
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Nick Sherry Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Glenn Sterle WA No
Ruth Webber WA No
Penny Wong SA No
Dana Wortley SA No
George Campbell NSW Absent
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
Michael Forshaw NSW Absent
Robert Ray Victoria Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party No
John Hogg Queensland Deputy President No
Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party No
Liberal Party (72% turnout) 0 Yes 23 No
Eric Abetz Tasmania No
Judith Adams WA No
Guy Barnett Tasmania No
Cory Bernardi SA No
Grant Chapman SA No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Alan Eggleston WA No
Chris Ellison WA No
Alan Ferguson SA No
Jeannie Ferris SA No
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW No
Mitch Fifield Victoria No
Gary Humphries ACT No
David Johnston WA No
Ross Lightfoot WA No
Stephen Parry Tasmania No
Kay Patterson Victoria No
Marise Payne NSW No
Michael Ronaldson Victoria No
Judith Troeth Victoria No
Russell Trood Queensland No
Amanda Vanstone SA No
John Watson Tasmania No
George Brandis Queensland Absent
Ian Campbell WA Absent
Helen Coonan NSW Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW Absent
Rod Kemp Victoria Absent
Ian Macdonald Queensland Absent
Brett Mason Queensland Absent
Nick Minchin SA Absent
Santo Santoro Queensland Absent
National Party (60% turnout) 0 Yes 3 No
Barnaby Joyce Queensland No
Sandy Macdonald NSW No
Julian McGauran Victoria No
Ron Boswell Queensland Absent
Fiona Nash NSW Absent
Paul Calvert Tasmania President Absent
Totals (78% turnout) 9 Yes – 50 No