3rd Feb 2010, 3:49 PM – Senate Motions - Tamil Asylum Seekers - End standoff
Summary
EditThe majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, which means the motion failed.
Motion text
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) more than 240 Tamil asylum seekers remain on their boat in the Indonesian port of Merak, in increasingly squalid conditions after more than 3 months, and
(ii) this boat was intercepted by Indonesia at Australia’s request in October 2009;
(b) recognises:
(i) of the 240 on board, 100 have been found to be genuine refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, yet they are afraid to leave the boat under the threat of removal to Indonesian detention centres, and
(ii) Australia’s obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; and
(c) calls on the Government to immediately step in and end the standoff over the Tamil asylum-seekers who have been left in squalid conditions on a boat at Merak, Indonesia for 115 days.
Votes Not passed by a modest majority
Nobody rebelled against their 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 (61% turnout) | 0 Yes – 19 No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | No | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Dana Wortley SA | No | |
| Mark Arbib NSW | Absent | |
| Mark Bishop WA | Absent | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Absent | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Absent | |
| Trish Crossin NT | Absent | |
| Chris Evans WA | Absent | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Absent | |
| Nick Sherry Tasmania | Absent | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | Absent | |
| Alan Ferguson SA Deputy President | No | |
| Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party | No | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | Yes | |
| Liberal Party (30% turnout) | 0 Yes – 9 No | |
| Christopher Back WA | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | No | |
| Mary Fisher SA | No | |
| David Johnston WA | No | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | No | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania | No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| Judith Adams WA | Absent | |
| Guy Barnett Tasmania | Absent | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | Absent | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | Absent | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Absent | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | Absent | |
| Helen Coonan NSW | Absent | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | Absent | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Absent | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | Absent | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | Absent | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | Absent | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | Absent | |
| Nick Minchin SA | Absent | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Absent | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | Absent | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | Absent | |
| Judith Troeth Victoria | Absent | |
| Russell Trood Queensland | Absent | |
| National Party (0% turnout) | Absent | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | Absent | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | Absent | |
| Julian McGauran Victoria | Absent | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | Absent | |
| John Williams NSW | Absent | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | Absent | |
| Totals (47% turnout) | 6 Yes – 30 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.