11th Oct 2012, 12:11 PM – Senate Motions – State-based Marriage Equality Legislation – No Commonwealth challenge
Summary
EditThe majority voted against a motion to ask the Gillard Government to “rule out a Commonwealth challenge of any state-based marriage equality legislation”. This means that the majority believe that the Government should be able to challenge state same-sex marriage laws in the High Court.
Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduced the motion.
Background to the motion
Two weeks ago, the Tasmanian Legislative Council voted against a bill that would have made Tasmania the first state to recognise same-sex marriage in Australia. Members who opposed the bill were concerned that it may not be constitutionally valid because it was inconsistent with Commonwealth marriage law. And their main concern was the potential cost of a Commonwealth challenge against the bill (see ABC News).
Professor Anne Twomey gives a good discussion of the bill's constitutional issues.
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 (67% turnout) | 0 Yes – 20 No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | No | |
| Mark Bishop WA | No | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | 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 | |
| Ursula Stephens NSW | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Matt Thistlethwaite NSW | No | |
| Lin Thorp Tasmania | No | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | No | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | Absent | |
| Bob Carr NSW | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Stephen Conroy Victoria | Absent | |
| Trish Crossin NT | Absent | |
| Chris Evans WA | Absent | |
| John Faulkner NSW | Absent | |
| Lisa Singh 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 | No | |
| Nick Xenophon SA Independent | Yes | |
| Liberal Party (48% turnout) | 0 Yes – 13 No | |
| Cory Bernardi SA | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Sean Edwards SA | No | |
| Alan Eggleston WA | No | |
| Bill Heffernan NSW | No | |
| Helen Kroger Victoria | No | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | No | |
| Brett Mason Queensland | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| Christopher Back WA | Absent | |
| Sue Boyce Queensland | Absent | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Absent | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | Absent | |
| Gary Humphries ACT | Absent | |
| David Johnston WA | Absent | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Absent | |
| Michael Ronaldson Victoria | Absent | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | Absent | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | Absent | |
| National Party (60% turnout) | 0 Yes – 3 No | |
| Ron Boswell Queensland | No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| John Williams NSW | No | |
| Barnaby Joyce Queensland | Absent | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | Absent | |
| John Hogg Queensland President | Absent | |
| Totals (63% turnout) | 10 Yes – 38 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.