edited
31st May 2018
Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea
Passed by a large majority
No rebellions 72% attendance
9th May 2018, 11:03 AM – Senate Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 - in Committee - Parliamentary oversight
Summary
EditThe majority voted against amendments introduced by Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick calling for greater parliamentary oversight of Australia's national security and intelligence services.
Senator Patrick explained that:
These amendments will amend the Intelligence Services Act 2001 to extend parliamentary scrutiny to the operation of Australia's national security and intelligence agencies. ... Centre Alliance considers it imperative to improve parliamentary oversight of Australia's intelligence agencies as they face greater challenges and are given more resources and powers to intrude into the lives of Australian citizens. Australia's 10 national security and intelligence agencies employ more than 7,000 people and spend well over $2 billion per annum while they accumulate massive amounts of data at home and abroad. As the intelligence agencies have expanded, the mechanisms of accountability and review have received much less attention and fewer resources.
What does this bill do?
The bills digest explains that:
On 18 July 2017, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would establish a Home Affairs portfolio that will bring together Australia’s immigration, border protection, law enforcement and domestic security agencies in a single portfolio. Australian governments had previously considered but rejected the establishment of something similar to the US Department of Homeland Security or the UK Home Office on several occasions since the early 2000s. The new portfolio will be ‘modelled loosely’ on the UK’s arrangements, comprising a central department responsible for policy and strategic planning and several agencies that will retain their statutory independence.
Votes Not passed by a modest majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Cory Bernardi SA Australian Conservatives | Absent | |
| Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 9 Yes – 0 No | |
| Andrew Bartlett Queensland | Yes | |
| Richard Di Natale Victoria | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | Yes | |
| Lee Rhiannon NSW | Yes | |
| Janet Rice Victoria | Yes | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Australian Labor Party (48% turnout) | 0 Yes – 12 No | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | No | |
| Kristina Keneally NSW | No | |
| Chris Ketter Queensland | No | |
| Kimberley Kitching Victoria | No | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | No | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | No | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | No | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | No | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Absent | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Absent | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Absent | |
| Patrick Dodson WA | Absent | |
| Don Farrell SA | Absent | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Absent | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Absent | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Absent | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Centre Alliance (0% turnout) | Absent | |
| Stirling Griff SA | Absent | |
| Rex Patrick SA | Absent | |
| Nigel Scullion NT Country Liberal Party | Absent | |
| Derryn Hinch Victoria Derryn Hinch's Justice Party | Yes | |
| Sue Lines WA Deputy President | Absent | |
| Tim Storer SA Independent | Yes | |
| Fraser Anning Queensland Independent | No | |
| Lucy Gichuhi SA Independent | No | |
| Steve Martin Tasmania Independent | No | |
| David Leyonhjelm NSW Liberal Democratic Party | No | |
| Liberal National Party (0% turnout) | Absent | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| James McGrath Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (57% turnout) | 0 Yes – 13 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
| Slade Brockman WA | No | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | No | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | No | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | No | |
| Jim Molan NSW | No | |
| James Paterson Victoria | No | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Amanda Stoker Queensland | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Absent | |
| Lucy Gichuhi SA | Absent | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Absent | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | Absent | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | Absent | |
| National Party (67% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Barry O'Sullivan Queensland | No | |
| John Williams NSW | No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | Absent | |
| Nick Xenophon Team (100% turnout) | 2 Yes – 0 No | |
| Stirling Griff SA | Yes | |
| Rex Patrick SA | Yes | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (67% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Brian Burston NSW | No | |
| Peter Georgiou WA | No | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | Absent | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria President | Absent | |
| Totals (61% turnout) | 13 Yes – 33 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.