Summary

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The majority voted against a motion to read the bill for a second time.

This means that the majority of senators reject the main idea of the bill, which is to allow marriage regardless of sex, sexuality and gender identity

Someone who voted Aye supports the main idea of the bill. Since the majority voted No, the bill will not considered any further.

Debate in Parliament

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduced the bill as a private member's bill. She argued that the bill would remove “the discrimination that currently exists within the Marriage Act”.

Both the Labor Government and the Coalition Opposition opposed this bill, arguing that the current marriage law was not discriminatory.

Background to the Bill

The Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009 was introduced at a time when Australian states and territories are establishing relationship registration and civil partnership schemes for same-sex couples. At the time of this division, such schemes have been established in Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. However, Senator Hanson-Young argues that these schemes are insufficient and “fall short of equal legal recognition”.

Votes Not passed by a large 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 (71% turnout) 0 Yes 22 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
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
Jan McLucas Queensland No
Claire Moore Queensland No
Kerry O'Brien Tasmania No
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Nick Sherry Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Glenn Sterle WA No
Dana Wortley SA No
Mark Arbib NSW Absent
Kim Carr Victoria Absent
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
Chris Evans WA Absent
John Faulkner NSW Absent
Joe Ludwig Queensland Absent
Anne McEwen SA Absent
Louise Pratt WA 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 No
Liberal Party (60% turnout) 0 Yes 18 No
Eric Abetz Tasmania No
Christopher Back WA No
Guy Barnett Tasmania No
Cory Bernardi SA No
David Bushby Tasmania No
Michaelia Cash WA No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Mathias Cormann WA No
Alan Eggleston WA No
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW No
Mary Fisher SA No
Gary Humphries ACT No
David Johnston WA No
Brett Mason Queensland No
Nick Minchin SA No
Stephen Parry Tasmania No
Michael Ronaldson Victoria No
Judith Troeth Victoria No
Judith Adams WA Absent
Simon Birmingham SA Absent
Sue Boyce Queensland Absent
George Brandis Queensland Absent
Helen Coonan NSW Absent
Mitch Fifield Victoria Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW Absent
Helen Kroger Victoria Absent
Ian Macdonald Queensland Absent
Marise Payne NSW Absent
Scott Ryan Victoria Absent
Russell Trood Queensland Absent
National Party (20% turnout) 0 Yes 1 No
Ron Boswell Queensland No
Barnaby Joyce Queensland Absent
Julian McGauran Victoria Absent
Fiona Nash NSW Absent
John Williams NSW Absent
John Hogg Queensland President No
Totals (66% turnout) 5 Yes – 45 No