13th Feb 2020, 12:17 PM – Senate Motions - Higher Education - Make free
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 that:
(i) everyone has a right to education, whether you are leaving school, changing careers, retraining later in life or looking to gain new skills and knowledge,
(ii) more than a million students will commence at, or return to, public universities and TAFEs around Australia this month,
(iii) access to a world-class education shouldn't require going into large debts, but the average graduate today is saddled with more than $22,000 in study debt, and
(iv) a student graduating in 2020 will take a decade on average to repay their study loans just as they are starting out in life; and
(b) calls on the Federal Government to make TAFE and university free.
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 | |
| 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 (68% turnout) | 0 Yes – 17 No | |
| Tim Ayres NSW | No | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | No | |
| Kim Carr Victoria | No | |
| Raff Ciccone Victoria | No | |
| Patrick Dodson WA | No | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | No | |
| Nita Green Queensland | No | |
| Kristina Keneally NSW | No | |
| Kimberley Kitching Victoria | No | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | No | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Tony Sheldon NSW | No | |
| Marielle Smith SA | No | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | No | |
| Jess Walsh Victoria | No | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | No | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Absent | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Absent | |
| Don Farrell SA | Absent | |
| Alex Gallacher SA | Absent | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Absent | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Absent | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | 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 | Absent | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | Absent | |
| Liberal National Party (50% turnout) | 0 Yes – 1 No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | No | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (86% turnout) | 0 Yes – 25 No | |
| Eric Abetz Tasmania | No | |
| Alex Antic SA | No | |
| Wendy Askew Tasmania | No | |
| Andrew Bragg NSW | No | |
| Slade Brockman WA | No | |
| Claire Chandler Tasmania | No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | 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 | |
| Andrew McLachlan SA | No | |
| Jim Molan NSW | No | |
| Matt O'Sullivan WA | No | |
| James Paterson Victoria | No | |
| Marise Payne NSW | No | |
| Gerard Rennick Queensland | No | |
| Anne Ruston SA | No | |
| Paul Scarr Queensland | No | |
| Zed Seselja ACT | No | |
| Dean Smith WA | No | |
| Amanda Stoker Queensland | No | |
| David Van Victoria | No | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Mathias Cormann WA | Absent | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | 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 (80% turnout) | 11 Yes – 50 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.