23rd Aug 2012, 12:08 PM – Senate Motions - Inequality - Introduce a Federal Equality Act
Summary
EditThe majority voted against introducing "a stand-alone Federal Equality Act", which was suggested by Greens Senator Penny Wright.
Wording of the motion
That the Senate—
(a) recognises that discrimination and inequality are alive and well in Australia, for example, in August 2010, women earned 16.9 per cent less than men on average per week, with the total earnings gap increasing to 34.8 per cent per week when taking into account part time and casual work; and
(b) calls on the Government to:
(i) seize the opportunity to introduce a stand-alone Federal Equality Act that adopts global best-practice standards and brings Australian law into line with our international human rights obligations, and
(ii) ensure that new equality legislation includes, among other things, a specific duty to promote equality and eliminate discrimination, prohibits discrimination in all areas of public life and removes arbitrary and blanket exemptions.
Votes Not passed by a modest majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 9 Yes – 0 No | |
| Richard Di Natale Victoria | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | Yes | |
| Christine Milne Tasmania | Yes | |
| Lee Rhiannon NSW | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Penny Wright SA | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (70% turnout) | 0 Yes – 21 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 | |
| Mark Furner Queensland | No | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | 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 | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Matt Thistlethwaite NSW | No | |
| Lin Thorp Tasmania | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Absent | |
| Bob Carr NSW | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Absent | |
| Chris Evans WA | Absent | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Absent | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | Absent | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
| John Madigan Victoria Democratic Labor Party | No | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania Deputy President | No | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | No | |
| Liberal Party (42% turnout) | 0 Yes – 11 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Sean Edwards SA | No | |
| David Fawcett SA | No | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | No | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | No | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Christopher Back WA | Absent | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | Absent | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Absent | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | Absent | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | Absent | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | Absent | |
| David Johnston WA | Absent | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | Absent | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Absent | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | Absent | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | Absent | |
| National Party (40% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | No | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | Absent | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | Absent | |
| John Williams NSW | Absent | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | No | |
| Totals (64% turnout) | 9 Yes – 39 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.