The majority voted in favour of an amendment introduced by Senator Nigel Scullion, which means that it was successful. The amendment was:
(11) Page 18 (after line 12), after Schedule 3, insert:
Schedule 3A—Access to Aboriginal land
Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
1 Subsection 70B(2)
Omit “may” (first occurring), substitute “must”.
Senator Scullion explained that this amendment "deals with the current discretion of the minister in whether or not they change regulations or impact on regulations to ensure that the permit system changes are invoked".(Read Senator Scullion's full explanation here. Read more about the permit system in the bills digest. )
Background to the bill
In 2007, the Northern Territory National Emergency Response ('the Intervention') was introduced in response to a report called Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle Little Children are Sacred: The Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse.(Read more about the Little Children are Sacred report here. ) The intervention was controversial and has been a source of ongoing debate.
This latest bill changes and removes some of the measures introduced as part of the Intervention. In summary, it:
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (80% turnout) | 0 Yes – 4 No | |
| Bob Brown Tasmania | No | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | No | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | No | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | No | |
| Christine Milne Tasmania | Absent | |
| Australian Labor Party (71% turnout) | 0 Yes – 22 No | |
| Mark Arbib NSW | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | No | |
| Mark Bishop WA | No | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | No | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | No | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | No | |
| Trish Crossin NT | No | |
| Chris Evans WA | No | |
| Don Farrell SA | No | |
| David Feeney Victoria | No | |
| Michael Forshaw NSW | No | |
| Mark Furner Queensland | No | |
| Annette Hurley SA | No | |
| Steve Hutchins NSW | No | |
| Kate Lundy ACT | No | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | No | |
| Anne McEwen SA | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Nick Sherry Tasmania | No | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Dana Wortley SA | No | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Absent | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Absent | |
| Joe Ludwig Queensland | Absent | |
| Jan McLucas Queensland | Absent | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | Absent | |
| Kerry O'Brien Tasmania | Absent | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | Yes | |
| Alan Ferguson SA Deputy President | Yes | |
| Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party | Yes | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | Yes | |
| Liberal Party (67% turnout) | 20 Yes – 0 No | |
| Guy Barnett Tasmania | Yes | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | Yes | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Yes | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | Yes | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Yes | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | Yes | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | Yes | |
| Helen Coonan NSW | Yes | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Yes | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | Yes | |
| Mary Fisher SA | Yes | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | Yes | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | Yes | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Yes | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | Yes | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania | Yes | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Yes | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | Yes | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | Yes | |
| Judith Troeth Victoria | Yes | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| Judith Adams WA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | Absent | |
| Chris Ellison WA | Absent | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | Absent | |
| David Johnston WA | Absent | |
| Nick Minchin SA | Absent | |
| Russell Trood Queensland | Absent | |
| National Party (80% turnout) | 4 Yes – 0 No | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | Yes | |
| Julian McGauran Victoria | Yes | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | Yes | |
| John Williams NSW | Yes | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | Absent | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | Absent | |
| Totals (71% turnout) | 28 Yes – 26 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.