14th Jun 2017, 4:26 PM – Senate Motions - Influence of Foreign Agents - Royal Commission
Summary
EditThe majority voted against a motion introduced by Senator Cory Bernardi (SA), which means it failed.
Motion text
That the Senate—
(a) notes reports, arising from a joint investigation by the ABC Four Corners program and Fairfax Media, broadcast on 5 June 2017 regarding the increasing influence of the People's Republic of China in Australia's political system and within academia; and
(b) calls on the Prime Minister to request His Excellency the Governor-General issue Letters Patent to establish a royal commission into the following:
(i) the influence of foreign agents in offering direct or indirect benefits to politicians, political parties, governments and academia with a view to influencing decisions or other actions by those recipients to be in accord with the view of foreign governments, including, but not limited to, the Chinese Communist Party, and
(ii) possible reforms to preserve the sovereignty, transparency and integrity of Australian democracy.
Votes Not passed by a modest majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Cory Bernardi SA Australian Conservatives | Yes | |
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 9 No | |
| Richard Di Natale Victoria | No | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | No | |
| Scott Ludlam WA | No | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | No | |
| Lee Rhiannon NSW | No | |
| Janet Rice Victoria | No | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | No | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | No | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | No | |
| Australian Labor Party (44% turnout) | 0 Yes – 11 No | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | No | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | No | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | No | |
| Chris Ketter Queensland | No | |
| Kimberley Kitching Victoria | No | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | No | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | No | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | No | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Absent | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Absent | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Absent | |
| Sam Dastyari NSW | Absent | |
| Patrick Dodson WA | Absent | |
| Don Farrell SA | Absent | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | Absent | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Absent | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | Absent | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Absent | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
| Derryn Hinch Victoria Derryn Hinch's Justice Party | No | |
| Sue Lines WA Deputy President | No | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Independent | Yes | |
| Lucy Gichuhi SA Independent | No | |
| David Leyonhjelm NSW Liberal Democratic Party | Yes | |
| Liberal National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | No | |
| Liberal Party (57% turnout) | 0 Yes – 12 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
| Christopher Back WA | No | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | No | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | No | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | No | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | No | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | No | |
| James Paterson Victoria | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | No | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| George Brandis Queensland | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Anne Ruston SA | Absent | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | Absent | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | Absent | |
| Dean Smith WA | Absent | |
| National Party (75% turnout) | 0 Yes – 3 No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Fiona Nash NSW | No | |
| Barry O'Sullivan Queensland | No | |
| John Williams NSW | Absent | |
| Nick Xenophon Team (100% turnout) | 3 Yes – 0 No | |
| Stirling Griff SA | Yes | |
| Skye Kakoschke-Moore SA | Yes | |
| Nick Xenophon SA | Yes | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (100% turnout) | 4 Yes – 0 No | |
| Brian Burston NSW | Yes | |
| Peter Georgiou WA | Yes | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | Yes | |
| Malcolm Roberts Queensland | Yes | |
| Stephen Parry Tasmania President | No | |
| Totals (68% turnout) | 10 Yes – 42 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.