Summary

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This division relates to the Policy For protecting Australia's fresh water resources.

The majority voted against an amendment moved by independent Senator Nick Xenophon.

This means that the majority of senators were against the amendment, which was intended to ensure that the relevant water efficiencies for each area in the basin are taken into account when the authority creates sustainable diversion limits (SDLs). Senator Xenophon was concerned that some "areas are already so water-efficient that there is quite literally not a drop to spare".(See Senator Nick Xenophon's speech for more information about the purpose of the amendment. )

Background to the bill

The purpose of the bill is to allow the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to make adjustments to the long-term average sustainable diversion limit set by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.(See the bills digest (809KB) for more information on the bill and its purpose.) Sustainable diversion limits are the average water quantities that can be taken from the Murray-Darling basin sustainably and their aim is to return water to the environment.

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 (73% turnout) 0 Yes 22 No
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania No
Carol Brown Tasmania No
Doug Cameron NSW No
Kim Carr Victoria No
Trish Crossin NT No
Chris Evans WA No
Don Farrell SA No
John Faulkner NSW No
David Feeney Victoria No
Mark Furner Queensland No
Joe Ludwig Queensland No
Kate Lundy ACT No
Gavin Marshall Victoria No
Anne McEwen SA No
Claire Moore Queensland No
Helen Polley Tasmania No
Louise Pratt WA No
Lisa Singh Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Matt Thistlethwaite NSW No
Lin Thorp Tasmania No
Penny Wong SA No
Mark Bishop WA Absent
Bob Carr NSW Absent
Jacinta Collins Victoria Absent
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
Alex Gallacher SA Absent
Jan McLucas Queensland Absent
Glenn Sterle WA Absent
Anne Urquhart Tasmania Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party Absent
John Madigan Victoria Democratic Labor Party Absent
Stephen Parry Tasmania Deputy President No
Nick Xenophon SA Independent Yes
Liberal Party (33% turnout) 0 Yes 9 No
Christopher Back WA No
Simon Birmingham SA No
David Bushby Tasmania No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Sean Edwards SA No
David Fawcett SA No
Mitch Fifield Victoria No
Anne Ruston SA No
Dean Smith WA No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Absent
Cory Bernardi SA Absent
Sue Boyce Queensland Absent
George Brandis Queensland Absent
Michaelia Cash WA Absent
Mathias Cormann WA Absent
Alan Eggleston WA Absent
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW Absent
Gary Humphries ACT Absent
David Johnston WA Absent
Helen Kroger Victoria Absent
Ian Macdonald Queensland Absent
Brett Mason Queensland 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
Barnaby Joyce Queensland No
Bridget McKenzie Victoria No
John Williams NSW No
Ron Boswell Queensland Absent
Fiona Nash NSW Absent
John Hogg Queensland President Absent
Totals (59% turnout) 10 Yes – 35 No