Summary

Edit

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Larissa Waters. This means that the motion was rejected.

The motion was:

That the Senate-

(a) notes that:

(i) no coal seam gas projects or coal mines have been assessed under Australia's national environment laws for their impacts on the climate or water resources, and(For more information about coal seam gas, see here. )

(ii) there is huge concern about the impacts of coal seam gas and coal mines in the Australian community, particularly within farming communities that depend on scarce water resources; and

(b) calls on the Government to retrospectively apply its proposed water trigger and re-assess all projects approved under the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities ( Mr Burke).

Background to the motion

The 'water trigger' referred to in the motion is contained in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2013.(Read more about the bill here. More information about the water trigger is available in its bills digest (750 KB).) It is activated when coal seam gas or large mining developments are likely to have a significant impact on a water resource.

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 (60% turnout) 0 Yes 18 No
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania No
Mark Bishop WA No
Doug Cameron NSW No
Trish Crossin NT No
Chris Evans WA No
Don Farrell SA No
David Feeney Victoria No
Alex Gallacher SA No
Joe Ludwig Queensland 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
Anne Urquhart Tasmania No
Carol Brown Tasmania Absent
Bob Carr NSW Absent
Kim Carr Victoria Absent
Jacinta Collins Victoria Absent
Stephen Conroy Victoria Absent
John Faulkner NSW Absent
Mark Furner Queensland Absent
Kate Lundy ACT Absent
Ursula Stephens NSW Absent
Matt Thistlethwaite NSW Absent
Lin Thorp Tasmania Absent
Penny Wong SA Absent
Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party Absent
John Madigan Victoria Democratic Labor Party Yes
Stephen Parry Tasmania Deputy President Absent
Nick Xenophon SA Independent Absent
Liberal Party (37% turnout) 0 Yes 10 No
Christopher Back WA No
Cory Bernardi SA No
Simon Birmingham SA No
Michaelia Cash WA No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Mitch Fifield Victoria No
Helen Kroger Victoria No
Anne Ruston SA No
Scott Ryan Victoria No
Dean Smith WA No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Absent
Sue Boyce Queensland Absent
George Brandis Queensland Absent
David Bushby Tasmania Absent
Mathias Cormann WA Absent
Sean Edwards SA Absent
Alan Eggleston WA Absent
David Fawcett SA Absent
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW 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 (20% turnout) 0 Yes 1 No
Bridget McKenzie Victoria No
Ron Boswell Queensland Absent
Barnaby Joyce Queensland Absent
Fiona Nash NSW Absent
John Williams NSW Absent
John Hogg Queensland President No
Totals (53% turnout) 10 Yes – 30 No