Summary

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The majority voted against a motion introduced by Tasmanian Senator Christine Milne (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges the proposal to build community-scale solar thermal plants and install solar photovoltaic panels in western New South Wales, known as the Solar Energy eXchange Initiative (the Initiative), has received in-principle support from 22 councils in the target area, including the unincorporated area;

(b) notes the Initiative would boost local economies, create local jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the need for investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure and, in the long run, reduce power bills;

(c) supports those councils involved in the Initiative and the value that such projects can bring to long-term energy security and the economy in New South Wales; and

(d) encourages all levels of government to work cooperatively to see plans such as the Initiative harness the power of the sun in inland New South Wales to the benefit of ratepayers and residents, the economy and the environment.

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
Mark Bishop WA No
Doug Cameron NSW No
Jacinta Collins Victoria No
Stephen Conroy Victoria No
Sam Dastyari NSW No
John Faulkner NSW No
Mark Furner Queensland No
Alex Gallacher SA No
Sue Lines WA No
Joe Ludwig Queensland No
Anne McEwen SA No
Claire Moore Queensland No
Deborah O'Neill NSW No
Nova Peris NT No
Lisa Singh Tasmania No
Ursula Stephens NSW No
Glenn Sterle WA No
Lin Thorp Tasmania No
Mehmet Tillem Victoria No
Anne Urquhart Tasmania No
Penny Wong SA No
Carol Brown Tasmania Absent
Kim Carr Victoria Absent
Don Farrell SA Absent
Kate Lundy ACT Absent
Gavin Marshall Victoria Absent
Jan McLucas Queensland Absent
Helen Polley Tasmania Absent
Louise Pratt WA 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 (74% turnout) 0 Yes 20 No
Christopher Back WA No
Cory Bernardi SA No
Simon Birmingham SA No
Sue Boyce Queensland No
David Bushby Tasmania No
Michaelia Cash WA No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Sean Edwards SA No
Alan Eggleston WA No
David Fawcett SA No
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW No
Mitch Fifield Victoria No
David Johnston WA No
Helen Kroger Victoria No
Ian Macdonald Queensland No
Anne Ruston SA No
Scott Ryan Victoria No
Zed Seselja ACT No
Arthur Sinodinos NSW No
Dean Smith WA No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Absent
George Brandis Queensland Absent
Mathias Cormann WA Absent
Bill Heffernan NSW Absent
Brett Mason Queensland Absent
Marise Payne NSW Absent
Michael Ronaldson Victoria Absent
National Party (80% turnout) 0 Yes 4 No
Ron Boswell Queensland No
Bridget McKenzie Victoria No
Fiona Nash NSW No
Barry O'Sullivan Queensland No
John Williams NSW Absent
Nick Xenophon SA Nick Xenophon Team Absent
John Hogg Queensland President No
Totals (76% turnout) 10 Yes – 48 No