Summary

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The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham, which means that it was rejected. The amendment would have inserted a provision into the bill that requires the supply of eligible services to be on a wholesale basis.(Read Senator Birmingham's explanation of his amendment and the related debate here, after 4:57 pm. )

Background to the bills

The National Broadband Network Companies Bill 2010 ('NBN Co bill') was introduced with the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network Measures-Access Arrangements) Bill 2010 ('Telecommunications bill').

The NBN Co bill establishes a regulatory framework for ownership, governance and operation of the NBN Co and its subsidiary corporations.(Read more about the NBN Co bill in its bills digest. ) The NBN Co was created to build and operate the National Broadband Network ('NBN'), a key Labor Government policy.

The Telecommunications bill supports the NBN Co bill by, among other things: supporting the rollout of NBN-consistent fibre to the premises networks in new real estate developments and placing certain obligations on the supply of wholesale services by an NBN corporation.(Read more about the Telecommunications bill in its bills digest.)

Votes Not passed by a small majority

Nobody rebelled against their 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 (81% turnout) 0 Yes 25 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
Trish Crossin NT 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
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Louise Pratt WA No
Nick Sherry Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Dana Wortley SA No
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
Chris Evans WA Absent
Claire Moore Queensland Absent
Kerry O'Brien Tasmania Absent
Glenn Sterle WA Absent
Penny Wong SA Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party Yes
Alan Ferguson SA Deputy President Yes
Steve Fielding Victoria Family First Party No
Nick Xenophon SA Independent No
Liberal Party (83% turnout) 25 Yes 0 No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Yes
Judith Adams WA Yes
Guy Barnett Tasmania Yes
Cory Bernardi SA Yes
Simon Birmingham SA Yes
Sue Boyce Queensland Yes
George Brandis Queensland Yes
David Bushby Tasmania Yes
Michaelia Cash WA Yes
Richard Colbeck Tasmania Yes
Helen Coonan NSW Yes
Alan Eggleston WA Yes
Mitch Fifield Victoria Yes
Mary Fisher SA Yes
Gary Humphries ACT Yes
David Johnston WA Yes
Helen Kroger Victoria Yes
Ian Macdonald Queensland Yes
Brett Mason Queensland Yes
Nick Minchin SA Yes
Stephen Parry Tasmania Yes
Michael Ronaldson Victoria Yes
Scott Ryan Victoria Yes
Judith Troeth Victoria Yes
Russell Trood Queensland Yes
Christopher Back WA Absent
Mathias Cormann WA Absent
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW Absent
Marise Payne NSW Absent
National Party (80% turnout) 4 Yes 0 No
Barnaby Joyce Queensland Yes
Julian McGauran Victoria Yes
Fiona Nash NSW Yes
John Williams NSW Yes
Ron Boswell Queensland Absent
John Hogg Queensland President No
Totals (84% turnout) 31 Yes – 33 No