Australian Senate vote not passed, 25th Nov 2009, 12:24 PM

Summary

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Nationals Senator John Williams.

It would have amended the original motion "That these bills be now read a second time" with the following:

At the end of the motion, add:

and further consideration of the bills, which will impose the single largest structural change to the Australian economy, be made an order of the day for the first sitting day after:

(a) the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit has concluded; and

(b) the United States Senate has clarified its position by finally voting on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (the Waxman-Markey bill).

The Liberal Party was split on this amendment, with some voting 'aye' along with their National Party colleagues and some voting 'no'. This split within a major party is quite unusual and reflects the controversy of this policy.

Background to the bills

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 (No. 2) was introduced as part of a package of six bills along with five other related bills to introduce the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. They reflect the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 and its related acts, as amended in the House of Representatives before it was negated in the Senate.(See that division here. )

The scheme is an emission trading scheme designed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in an effort to address climate change. It gives effect to Australia's obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

The design of the scheme has been criticised by the business community for threatening jobs and by environmentalists for not going far enough with its emission reduction targets.(Read more about these criticisms here.)

The six bills that were introduced as a package are called:

The five other related bills are called:

References

Votes Not passed by a modest majority

There were 11 rebellions in this division.

Judith Adams voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Christopher Back voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Guy Barnett voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Cory Bernardi voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
David Bushby voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Michaelia Cash voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Mathias Cormann voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Alan Eggleston voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Mitch Fifield voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Ian Macdonald voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.
Brett Mason voted Yes against the majority of the Liberal Party.

Party	Votes
Australian Greens (100% turnout)	0 Yes – 5 No
Bob Brown Tasmania	No
Sarah Hanson-Young SA	No
Scott Ludlam WA	No
Christine Milne Tasmania	No
Rachel Siewert WA	No
Australian Labor Party (100% turnout)	0 Yes – 31 No
Mark Arbib NSW	No
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania	No
Mark Bishop WA	No
Carol Brown Tasmania	No
Doug Cameron NSW	No
Kim Carr Victoria	No
Jacinta Collins Victoria	No
Stephen Conroy Victoria	No
Trish Crossin NT	No
Chris Evans WA	No
Don Farrell SA	No
John Faulkner NSW	No
David Feeney Victoria	No
Michael Forshaw NSW	No
Mark Furner Queensland	No
Annette Hurley SA	No
Steve Hutchins NSW	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
Louise Pratt WA	No
Nick Sherry Tasmania	No
Ursula Stephens NSW	No
Glenn Sterle WA	No
Penny Wong SA	No
Dana Wortley SA	No
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party	Yes
Alan Ferguson SA Deputy President	Yes
Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party	Yes
Nick Xenophon SA Independent	No
Liberal Party (83% turnout)	11 Yes – 14 No
Judith Adams WA	Yes
Christopher Back WA	Yes
Guy Barnett Tasmania	Yes
Cory Bernardi SA	Yes
David Bushby Tasmania	Yes
Michaelia Cash WA	Yes
Mathias Cormann WA	Yes
Alan Eggleston WA	Yes
Mitch Fifield Victoria	Yes
Ian Macdonald Queensland	Yes
Brett Mason Queensland	Yes
Simon Birmingham SA	No
Sue Boyce Queensland	No
George Brandis Queensland	No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania	No
Helen Coonan NSW	No
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW	No
Gary Humphries ACT	No
David Johnston WA	No
Helen Kroger Victoria	No
Stephen Parry Tasmania	No
Marise Payne NSW	No
Michael Ronaldson Victoria	No
Judith Troeth Victoria	No
Russell Trood Queensland	No
Eric Abetz Tasmania	Absent
Mary Fisher SA	Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW	Absent
Nick Minchin SA	Absent
Scott Ryan Victoria	Absent
National Party (80% turnout)	4 Yes – 0 No
Ron Boswell Queensland	Yes
Barnaby Joyce Queensland	Yes
Fiona Nash NSW	Yes
John Williams NSW	Yes
Julian McGauran Victoria	Absent
John Hogg Queensland President	No
Totals (92% turnout)	18 Yes – 52 No

Red entries are rebel votes against the majority of a party.

Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.

25th Nov 2009, 12:24 PM – Senate Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - Second Reading - Defer consideration

Summary

Votes Not passed by a modest majority

Related divisions

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] - Second Reading - Put the question

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] - Second Reading - Defer consideration

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] - Second Reading - Read a second time

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] - First Reading - Proceed without formalities

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - Second Reading - Commit to reducing emissions

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - Second Reading - Refer to committee

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - Second Reading - Read a second time

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] - In Committee - Financial support to developing countries

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills — In Committee - Increase emission reduction target

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - In Committee - Free allocation of permits

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - In Committee - Limit overseas permits

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - In Committee - Free permits for coal fired electricity generators

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - In Committee - Insert mandatory requirement to consider

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - In Committee - Reforestation aspects

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 [No. 2] and related bills - Third Reading - Read a third time

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 [No. 2] - Consideration in Detail - Don't apply scheme to food production

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009 [No. 2] - Consideration in Detail - Agree to the bill

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2009 [No. 2] and Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2009 [No. 2] - Third Reading ...