Summary

Edit

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Australian Democrats Senator Andrew Murray, meaning it was unsuccessful.

Motion text

(1) Schedule 1, page 3 (after line 4), before item 1, insert:

1A After paragraph 7(1)(fa)

Insert:

(fb) to conduct plebiscites in localities where major infrastructure projects are proposed.

Note: Examples of major infrastructure projects include a dam, a desalination plant, a pulp mill, a nuclear facility and harbour dredging.

(2) Schedule 1, item 1, page 4 (after line 5), at the end of the item, add:

(1H) To ensure that communities in which a major infrastructure project is to be established have authorised that establishment and have consented to the health, welfare, safety and environmental impacts and risks of the establishment of the major infrastructure project, for the purposes of paragraph 7(1)(fb), a plebiscite must be conducted by the Commission in every federal electorate within 0.5km of the boundary of the major infrastructure project seeking approval for the establishment of the facility.

(1I) A major infrastructure project may not proceed unless a plebiscite has first been conducted in accordance with subsection (1H).

(3) Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 5), after item 1, insert:

1A After section 7A

Insert:

7AB Preparation of arguments for and against an infrastructure project for which a plebiscite is to be conducted

(1) A plebiscite may not be conducted in accordance with paragraph 7(1)(fb) unless an argument in favour of the proposed major infrastructure project (the project) and an argument against the proposed major infrastructure project has first been prepared in relation to the plebiscite for that major infrastructure project.

(2) The argument for and the argument against the project must include a statement consisting of not more than 2,000 words, which includes:

(a) an analysis of the costs and benefits of the project;

(b) an analysis of the environmental impacts of the project;

(c) a consideration of alternative options to the project.

(3) The argument in favour of the project may be submitted to the Electoral Commission by the chief proponent or proponents for the project.

(4) The argument against the project may be submitted to the Electoral Commission by the chief opponent or opponents of the project.

(5) The Electoral Commission must cause to be printed and to be posted to each elector within the area in which the plebiscite is to be conducted a pamphlet containing the arguments for and against the project.

Votes Not passed by a large majority

Nobody rebelled against their party.

Party Votes
Australian Democrats (75% turnout) 3 Yes 0 No
Lyn Allison Victoria Yes
Andrew Murray WA Yes
Natasha Stott Despoja SA Yes
Andrew Bartlett Queensland Absent
Australian Greens (75% turnout) 3 Yes 0 No
Bob Brown Tasmania Yes
Christine Milne Tasmania Yes
Rachel Siewert WA Yes
Kerry Nettle NSW Absent
Australian Labor Party (56% turnout) 0 Yes 15 No
Carol Brown Tasmania No
Trish Crossin NT No
Annette Hurley SA No
Steve Hutchins NSW No
Linda Kirk SA No
Joe Ludwig Queensland No
Kate Lundy ACT No
Gavin Marshall Victoria No
Anne McEwen SA No
Claire Moore Queensland No
Kerry O'Brien Tasmania No
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Glenn Sterle WA No
Ruth Webber WA No
Dana Wortley SA No
Mark Bishop WA Absent
George Campbell NSW Absent
Kim Carr Victoria Absent
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
Chris Evans WA Absent
John Faulkner NSW Absent
Michael Forshaw NSW Absent
Jan McLucas Queensland Absent
Robert Ray Victoria Absent
Nick Sherry Tasmania Absent
Ursula Stephens NSW Absent
Penny Wong SA Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party Absent
John Hogg Queensland Deputy President No
Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party No
Liberal Party (47% turnout) 0 Yes 15 No
Guy Barnett Tasmania No
Cory Bernardi SA No
Simon Birmingham SA No
David Bushby Tasmania No
Grant Chapman SA No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Alan Eggleston WA No
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW No
Mitch Fifield Victoria No
Mary Fisher SA No
Ian Macdonald Queensland No
Stephen Parry Tasmania No
Marise Payne NSW No
Russell Trood Queensland No
John Watson Tasmania No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Absent
Judith Adams WA Absent
Sue Boyce Queensland Absent
George Brandis Queensland Absent
Helen Coonan NSW Absent
Mathias Cormann WA Absent
Chris Ellison WA Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW Absent
Gary Humphries ACT Absent
David Johnston WA Absent
Rod Kemp Victoria Absent
Ross Lightfoot WA Absent
Brett Mason Queensland Absent
Nick Minchin SA Absent
Kay Patterson Victoria Absent
Michael Ronaldson Victoria Absent
Judith Troeth Victoria Absent
National Party (40% turnout) 0 Yes 2 No
Julian McGauran Victoria No
Fiona Nash NSW No
Ron Boswell Queensland Absent
Barnaby Joyce Queensland Absent
Sandy Macdonald NSW Absent
Alan Ferguson SA President Absent
Totals (53% turnout) 6 Yes – 34 No