5th Dec 2019, 12:25 PM – Senate Motions - New South Wales Bushfires - Declare climate emergency
Summary
EditThe majority voted against a motion introduced by NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens), which means it failed.
Motion text
That the Senate—
(a) notes with deep concern that:
(i) over a hundred fires continue to burn across New South Wales,
(ii) data from the New South Wales Department of Environment shows harmful pollutants in Sydney's air are already over three times worse than at any moment in the past five years during bushfire season,
(iii) the toxicity of the air in some parts of Sydney is the equivalent of smoking between four and ten cigarettes a day,
(iv) particle pollution can trigger heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and asthma attacks,
(v) New South Wales Health has stated that bushfires were to blame for an increase in people presenting to emergency departments with asthma and breathing difficulties, and
(vi) Mr Greg Mullins, the former chief of NSW Fire and Rescue, has stated that 'climate change has supercharged the bushfire problem' and that 'if anyone tells you this is part of a normal cycle or we've had fires like this before smile politely and walk away, because they don't know what they're talking about'; and
(b) calls on the Federal Government to protect the health of the people of New South Wales and declare a climate emergency.
Votes Not passed by a small majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
Party | Votes | |
---|---|---|
Cory Bernardi SA Australian Conservatives | No | |
Australian Greens (100% turnout) | 9 Yes – 0 No | |
Richard Di Natale Victoria | Yes | |
Mehreen Faruqi NSW | Yes | |
Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
Nick McKim Tasmania | Yes | |
Janet Rice Victoria | Yes | |
Rachel Siewert WA | Yes | |
Jordon Steele-John WA | Yes | |
Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
Australian Labor Party (84% turnout) | 21 Yes – 0 No | |
Tim Ayres NSW | Yes | |
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
Carol Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
Kim Carr Victoria | Yes | |
Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Yes | |
Raff Ciccone Victoria | Yes | |
Don Farrell SA | Yes | |
Alex Gallacher SA | Yes | |
Katy Gallagher ACT | Yes | |
Nita Green Queensland | Yes | |
Kristina Keneally NSW | Yes | |
Kimberley Kitching Victoria | Yes | |
Deborah O'Neill NSW | Yes | |
Helen Polley Tasmania | Yes | |
Louise Pratt WA | Yes | |
Tony Sheldon NSW | Yes | |
Marielle Smith SA | Yes | |
Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Yes | |
Jess Walsh Victoria | Yes | |
Murray Watt Queensland | Yes | |
Patrick Dodson WA | Absent | |
Jenny McAllister NSW | Absent | |
Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Absent | |
Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
Centre Alliance (100% turnout) | 2 Yes – 0 No | |
Stirling Griff SA | Yes | |
Rex Patrick SA | Yes | |
Sam McMahon NT Country Liberal Party | No | |
Sue Lines WA Deputy President | Yes | |
Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | No | |
Liberal National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
Matthew Canavan Queensland | No | |
James McGrath Queensland | No | |
Liberal Party (89% turnout) | 0 Yes – 25 No | |
Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
Alex Antic SA | No | |
Wendy Askew Tasmania | No | |
Simon Birmingham SA | No | |
Andrew Bragg NSW | No | |
Slade Brockman WA | No | |
Michaelia Cash WA | No | |
Claire Chandler Tasmania | No | |
Richard Colbeck Tasmania | No | |
Mathias Cormann WA | No | |
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | No | |
David Fawcett SA | No | |
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW | No | |
Sarah Henderson Victoria | No | |
Hollie Hughes NSW | No | |
Jane Hume Victoria | No | |
Jim Molan NSW | No | |
Matt O'Sullivan WA | No | |
James Paterson Victoria | No | |
Linda Reynolds WA | No | |
Anne Ruston SA | No | |
Zed Seselja ACT | No | |
Dean Smith WA | No | |
Amanda Stoker Queensland | No | |
David Van Victoria | No | |
Marise Payne NSW | Absent | |
Gerard Rennick Queensland | Absent | |
Paul Scarr Queensland | Absent | |
National Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 3 No | |
Perin Davey NSW | No | |
Susan McDonald Queensland | No | |
Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (100% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
Pauline Hanson Queensland | No | |
Malcolm Roberts Queensland | No | |
Scott Ryan Victoria President | No | |
Totals (91% turnout) | 33 Yes – 36 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.