Summary

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The majority voted in favour of clause (a) of motion 891, which means it passed. It was introduced by South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens).

Motions like these don't make any legal changes but they can be politically influential as they represent the will of the Senate.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Murray-Darling Basin has been plagued by greed, corruption, water theft and a lack of action on climate change,

(ii) corporate irrigators have been allowed to run amok with water at the expense of river communities, small family farms and the environment,

(iii) the New South Wales (NSW) Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has just concluded two investigations into complaints about water management and alleged misconduct,

(iv) the ICAC found that irrigators' interests had been prioritised over the environment, and

(v) the ICAC made 15 recommendations, including to specifically deal with the undue focus on irrigators' interests within NSW water agencies and the:

(A) lengthy history of failure in giving proper and full effect to the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW),

(B) failure to fully implement water sharing plans and ensure they are audited,

(C) need to fund independent scientific audits to determine the ecological health of rivers,

(D) lack of transparency, balance and fairness in consultation processes undertaken by water agencies in relation to external stakeholders, and

(E) sidelining of public officials undertaking environmental roles within the NSW Government; and

(b) ...

Votes Passed by a small majority

Nobody rebelled against their party.

Party Votes
Australian Greens (100% turnout) 9 Yes 0 No
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
Lidia Thorpe Victoria Yes
Larissa Waters Queensland Yes
Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania Yes
Australian Labor Party (68% turnout) 17 Yes 0 No
Tim Ayres NSW 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
Jenny McAllister NSW Yes
Malarndirri McCarthy NT Yes
Deborah O'Neill NSW Yes
Helen Polley Tasmania Yes
Louise Pratt WA Yes
Tony Sheldon NSW Yes
Glenn Sterle WA Yes
Anne Urquhart Tasmania Yes
Jess Walsh Victoria Yes
Murray Watt Queensland Yes
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania Absent
Carol Brown Tasmania Absent
Kim Carr Victoria Absent
Patrick Dodson WA Absent
Kristina Keneally NSW Absent
Kimberley Kitching Victoria Absent
Marielle Smith SA Absent
Penny Wong SA Absent
Stirling Griff SA Centre Alliance Yes
Sam McMahon NT Country Liberal Party No
Sue Lines WA Deputy President Yes
Rex Patrick SA Independent 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 (72% turnout) 0 Yes 21 No
Eric Abetz Tasmania No
Alex Antic SA No
Wendy Askew Tasmania No
Andrew Bragg NSW No
Slade Brockman WA No
Michaelia Cash WA No
Claire Chandler Tasmania No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania No
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW No
Sarah Henderson Victoria No
Hollie Hughes NSW No
Jane Hume Victoria No
Matt O'Sullivan WA No
James Paterson Victoria No
Linda Reynolds WA No
Anne Ruston SA No
Ben Small WA No
Dean Smith WA No
Amanda Stoker Queensland No
David Van Victoria No
Simon Birmingham SA Absent
David Fawcett SA Absent
Andrew McLachlan SA Absent
Jim Molan NSW Absent
Marise Payne NSW Absent
Gerard Rennick Queensland Absent
Paul Scarr Queensland Absent
Zed Seselja ACT 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) 2 Yes 0 No
Pauline Hanson Queensland Yes
Malcolm Roberts Queensland Yes
Scott Ryan Victoria President No
Totals (79% turnout) 31 Yes – 29 No