edited
11th May 2018
Criminal Code Amendment (Impersonating a Commonwealth Body) Bill 2017 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea
Passed by a large majority
No rebellions 91% attendance
18th Jun 2018, 12:26 PM – Senate Criminal Code Amendment (Impersonating a Commonwealth Body) Bill 2017 - Third Reading - Pass the bill
Summary
EditThe majority voted in favour of passing the bill. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a third time. Since the bill has already passed in the House of Representatives, it will now become law.
What does the bill do?
The bill will create two new offences for people who engage in conduct which results in a representation that the person is, or is acting on behalf of, a Commonwealth body.
It was introduced because:
During the 2016 federal election, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) campaign included a claim that the Coalition intended to privatise Medicare. This claim was dubbed ‘Mediscare’ by the media and was judged to have assisted the ALP position during the election period. Aspects of the ‘Mediscare’ campaign included the distribution of cardboard flyers containing messages which resembled Medicare cards, voice mail messages and bulk SMS text messages.
Read more about the background to the bill in its digest.
Votes 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 | |
| Andrew Bartlett Queensland | No | |
| Richard Di Natale Victoria | No | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | No | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | No | |
| Lee Rhiannon NSW | No | |
| Janet Rice Victoria | No | |
| Rachel Siewert WA | No | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | No | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | No | |
| Australian Labor Party (64% turnout) | 16 Yes – 0 No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
| Don Farrell SA | Yes | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Yes | |
| Kristina Keneally NSW | Yes | |
| Chris Ketter Queensland | Yes | |
| Kimberley Kitching Victoria | Yes | |
| Gavin Marshall Victoria | Yes | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Yes | |
| Claire Moore Queensland | Yes | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | Yes | |
| Louise Pratt WA | Yes | |
| Lisa Singh Tasmania | Yes | |
| David Smith ACT | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | Yes | |
| Penny Wong SA | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Doug Cameron NSW | Absent | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | Absent | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Absent | |
| Jacinta Collins Victoria | Absent | |
| Patrick Dodson WA | Absent | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | Absent | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Absent | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | 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 | Yes | |
| Fraser Anning Queensland Independent | Yes | |
| Lucy Gichuhi SA Independent | Yes | |
| Steve Martin Tasmania Independent | Yes | |
| Tim Storer SA Independent | Yes | |
| Fraser Anning Queensland Katter's Australian Party | Absent | |
| David Leyonhjelm NSW Liberal Democratic Party | No | |
| Liberal National Party (50% turnout) | 1 Yes – 0 No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | Yes | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (57% turnout) | 13 Yes – 0 No | |
| Slade Brockman WA | Yes | |
| David Bushby Tasmania | Yes | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | Yes | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | Yes | |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | Yes | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | Yes | |
| Jim Molan NSW | Yes | |
| James Paterson Victoria | Yes | |
| Marise Payne NSW | Yes | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | Yes | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | Yes | |
| Dean Smith WA | Yes | |
| Amanda Stoker Queensland | Yes | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | Absent | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Mitch Fifield Victoria | Absent | |
| Lucy Gichuhi SA | Absent | |
| Ian Macdonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Anne Ruston SA | Absent | |
| Arthur Sinodinos NSW | Absent | |
| National Party (67% turnout) | 2 Yes – 0 No | |
| Barry O'Sullivan Queensland | Yes | |
| John Williams NSW | Yes | |
| 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 (150% turnout) | 3 Yes – 0 No | |
| Brian Burston NSW | Yes | |
| Peter Georgiou WA | Yes | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | Yes | |
| Scott Ryan Victoria President | Absent | |
| Brian Burston NSW United Australia Party | Absent | |
| Totals (71% turnout) | 44 Yes – 10 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.