Summary

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This division relates to the Policy For stem cell research.

The majority voted in favour of amendments introduced by Australian Democrat Senator Natasha Stott Despoja also on behalf of Labor Senator Ruth Webber.

Senator Stott Despoja explained that these amendments increase certain penalties from 10 year term of imprisonment to 15 years to make them consistent throughout the bill.(Read Senator Stott Despoja's whole explanation and the related debate here, starting after 5:27 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 Passed by a small 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) 17 Yes 6 No
Carol Brown Tasmania Yes
Kim Carr Victoria Yes
Trish Crossin NT Yes
Chris Evans WA Yes
John Faulkner NSW Yes
Linda Kirk SA Yes
Kate Lundy ACT Yes
Gavin Marshall Victoria Yes
Anne McEwen SA Yes
Jan McLucas Queensland Yes
Claire Moore Queensland Yes
Kerry O'Brien Tasmania Yes
Robert Ray Victoria Yes
Nick Sherry Tasmania Yes
Ruth Webber WA Yes
Penny Wong SA Yes
Dana Wortley SA Yes
Mark Bishop WA No
Steve Hutchins NSW No
Joe Ludwig Queensland No
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Glenn Sterle WA No
George Campbell NSW Absent
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
Michael Forshaw NSW Absent
Annette Hurley SA Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party No
John Hogg Queensland Deputy President No
Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party No
Liberal Party (81% turnout) 11 Yes 15 No
Judith Adams WA Yes
Richard Colbeck Tasmania Yes
Alan Ferguson SA Yes
Jeannie Ferris SA Yes
David Johnston WA Yes
Kay Patterson Victoria Yes
Marise Payne NSW Yes
Judith Troeth Victoria Yes
Russell Trood Queensland Yes
Amanda Vanstone SA Yes
John Watson Tasmania Yes
Eric Abetz Tasmania No
Guy Barnett Tasmania No
Cory Bernardi SA No
Grant Chapman SA No
Alan Eggleston WA No
Chris Ellison WA No
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW No
Mitch Fifield Victoria No
Bill Heffernan NSW No
Gary Humphries ACT No
Rod Kemp Victoria No
Nick Minchin SA No
Stephen Parry Tasmania No
Michael Ronaldson Victoria No
Santo Santoro Queensland No
George Brandis Queensland Absent
Ian Campbell WA Absent
Helen Coonan NSW Absent
Ross Lightfoot WA Absent
Ian Macdonald Queensland Absent
Brett Mason Queensland Absent
National Party (80% turnout) 0 Yes 4 No
Ron Boswell Queensland No
Barnaby Joyce Queensland No
Sandy Macdonald NSW No
Julian McGauran Victoria No
Fiona Nash NSW Absent
Paul Calvert Tasmania President No
Totals (84% turnout) 35 Yes – 29 No