Summary

Edit

The majority voted against the following two Greens amendments moved by Senator Larissa Waters.

The first amendment removes the exception contained in section 505C(5)(a) of the bill that says "each member (other than the Chair) possesses appropriate scientific qualifications that the Minister considers relevant to the performance of the Committee’s functions". This amendment removes the words "(other than the Chair)".

The second amendment adds to the expertise that needs to be represented on the Committee created by this bill. Currently, there are four areas of scientific expertise that need to be included on the Committee:

  • geology;
  • hydrology;
  • hydrogeology; and
  • ecology.

The amendment adds public health, which Senator Waters said would address "the huge concern in the community about both coal seam gas and large coal mining and their impact on community health".(Read the rest of Senator Waters contribution here. )

Background to the bill

The bill establishes an Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development ('the Committee')(Read more about the Committee here. ) to provide federal, state and territory governments with scientific advice on coal seam gas and large coal mining developments which may have significant impacts on water resources.(See here for explanatory memoranda and proposed amendments.)

References

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 (57% turnout) 0 Yes 17 No
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania No
Doug Cameron NSW No
Stephen Conroy Victoria No
Trish Crossin NT No
Don Farrell SA No
Mark Furner Queensland No
Alex Gallacher SA No
Joe Ludwig Queensland No
Kate Lundy ACT No
Gavin Marshall Victoria No
Claire Moore Queensland No
Louise Pratt WA No
Lisa Singh Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Glenn Sterle WA No
Matt Thistlethwaite NSW No
Anne Urquhart Tasmania No
Mark Bishop WA Absent
Carol Brown Tasmania Absent
Bob Carr NSW Absent
Kim Carr Victoria Absent
Jacinta Collins Victoria Absent
Chris Evans WA Absent
John Faulkner NSW Absent
David Feeney Victoria Absent
Anne McEwen SA Absent
Jan McLucas Queensland Absent
Helen Polley Tasmania Absent
Lin Thorp Tasmania Absent
Penny Wong SA Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party Absent
John Madigan Victoria Democratic Labor Party No
Stephen Parry Tasmania Deputy President Absent
Nick Xenophon SA Independent Yes
Liberal Party (33% turnout) 0 Yes 9 No
Christopher Back WA No
David Bushby Tasmania No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Mathias Cormann WA No
Sean Edwards SA No
Helen Kroger Victoria No
Ian Macdonald Queensland No
Anne Ruston SA No
Dean Smith WA No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Absent
Cory Bernardi SA Absent
Simon Birmingham SA Absent
Sue Boyce Queensland Absent
George Brandis Queensland Absent
Michaelia Cash WA Absent
Alan Eggleston WA Absent
David Fawcett SA Absent
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW Absent
Mitch Fifield Victoria Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW Absent
Gary Humphries ACT Absent
David Johnston WA Absent
Brett Mason Queensland Absent
Marise Payne NSW Absent
Michael Ronaldson Victoria Absent
Scott Ryan Victoria Absent
Arthur Sinodinos NSW Absent
National Party (40% turnout) 0 Yes 2 No
Bridget McKenzie Victoria No
John Williams NSW No
Ron Boswell Queensland Absent
Barnaby Joyce Queensland Absent
Fiona Nash NSW Absent
John Hogg Queensland President No
Totals (53% turnout) 10 Yes – 30 No