8th Sep 2009, 1:24 PM – Senate Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Bill 2009 [No. 2] - Third Reading - Read a third time
Summary
EditThe majority voted in favour of a motion to read the bill a third time.
This means that the bill is now passed in the Senate and, as it has already passed in the House of Representatives, it will now become law.
The purpose of the bill was to change the law so that asylum-seekers will no longer be charged for their upkeep when locked up in detention centres.
Debate in Parliament
The Coalition voted against reading the bill for a third time, with the exception of Liberal Senator Judith Troeth. Senator Troeth crossed the floor to vote in favour of the bill.(Read more about Senator Troeth's rebellion here. )
Background to the bill
The bill was introduced by Labor MP Laurie Ferguson to amend the Migration Act 1958. It removes the liability for immigration detention and related costs for certain persons and liable parties and extinguish all outstanding immigration detention debts. In other words, people detained in immigration detention will no longer be charged the cost of their detention.(Read more about this amendment on Lawyers Weekly and News.com.au.)
References
Votes Passed by a small majority
There was 1 rebellion in this division.
- Judith Troeth voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 5 Yes – 0 No | |
| Bob Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | Yes | |
| Christine Milne Tasmania | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (81% turnout) | 25 Yes – 0 No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
| Mark Bishop WA | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | Yes | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Yes | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Yes | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Yes | |
| Trish Crossin NT | Yes | |
| Chris Evans WA | Yes | |
| Don Farrell SA | Yes | |
| David Feeney Victoria | Yes | |
| Michael Forshaw NSW | Yes | |
| Mark Furner Queensland | Yes | |
| Annette Hurley SA | Yes | |
| Steve Hutchins NSW | Yes | |
| Joe Ludwig Queensland | Yes | |
| Kate Lundy ACT | Yes | |
| Anne McEwen SA | Yes | |
| Jan McLucas Queensland | Yes | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | Yes | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Yes | |
| Louise Pratt WA | Yes | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Dana Wortley SA | Yes | |
| Mark Arbib NSW | Absent | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Absent | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | Absent | |
| Kerry O'Brien Tasmania | Absent | |
| Nick Sherry Tasmania | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
| Alan Ferguson SA Deputy President | No | |
| Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party | Yes | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | Yes | |
| Liberal Party (80% turnout) | 1 Yes – 23 No | |
| Judith Troeth Victoria | Yes | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
| Judith Adams WA | No | |
| Christopher Back WA | No | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | No | |
| George Brandis Queensland | No | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Helen Coonan NSW | No | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | No | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | No | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | No | |
| Mary Fisher SA | No | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | No | |
| David Johnston WA | No | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | No | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | No | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | No | |
| Nick Minchin SA | No | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | No | |
| Guy Barnett Tasmania | Absent | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | Absent | |
| Russell Trood Queensland | Absent | |
| National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 5 No | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | No | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | No | |
| Julian McGauran Victoria | No | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | No | |
| John Williams NSW | No | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | Yes | |
| Totals (84% turnout) | 34 Yes – 30 No |
Red entries are rebel votes against the majority of a party.
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.