Summary

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The majority voted against an amendment introduced by NSW Senator Deborah O'Neill (Labor), which means it failed. This amendment would have changed the definition of "gene technology."

Speaking in opposition to the amendment, Queensland Senator Murray Watt (Labor) explained that:

This amendment would change the definition of 'gene technology' to include mitochondrial donation. This would, in practice, require the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator to become involved in the regulation of mitochondrial donation.

This was a free vote (also known as a conscience vote), which means our senators voted according to their own beliefs rather than strictly along party lines.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 1, page 3 (before line 3), before the heading specifying Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002, insert:

Gene Technology Act 2000

1A Subsection 10(1) (definition of gene technology)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

gene technology means:

(a) any technique for the modification of genes or other genetic material; and

(b) a mitochondrial donation technique (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002);

but does not include:

(c) sexual reproduction; or

(d) homologous recombination; or

(e) any other technique specified in the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

What does this bill do?

According to the bills digest:

Mitochondrial disease is a group of conditions that can cause serious health issues and, in severe cases, can cause death in childhood. There is no known cure for mitochondrial disease.

Mitochondrial donation is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) that can assist women to avoid passing mitochondrial DNA disease to their biological child. This technology is not a cure for mitochondrial disease but is rather a way to prevent children from inheriting mitochondria that can cause mitochondrial disease.

Under the current legislative framework, mitochondrial donation is illegal under the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 (Cth) and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (Cth). The Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve’s Law) Bill 2021 (the Bill) amends relevant Acts and associated Regulations to make mitochondrial donation legal for research, training and human reproductive purposes. The overall aim is for women at risk of passing on mitochondrial disease to have reproductive options for biological children without the increased risk of their child having mitochondrial disease.

Primarily the Bill makes changes to ensure that it is no longer an offence to create, for the purposes of reproduction, and under the relevant mitochondrial donation licences, a human embryo that:

  • contains the genetic material of more than two people and
  • contains heritable changes to the genome.

Read more in the bills digest.

Votes Not passed by a small majority

Nobody rebelled against their party.

Party Votes
Australian Greens (100% turnout) 0 Yes 9 No
Dorinda Cox WA No
Mehreen Faruqi NSW No
Sarah Hanson-Young SA No
Nick McKim Tasmania No
Janet Rice Victoria No
Jordon Steele-John WA No
Lidia Thorpe Victoria No
Larissa Waters Queensland No
Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania No
Australian Labor Party (84% turnout) 6 Yes 15 No
Anthony Chisholm Queensland Yes
Raff Ciccone Victoria Yes
Don Farrell SA Yes
Kristina Keneally NSW Yes
Kimberley Kitching Victoria Yes
Deborah O'Neill NSW Yes
Tim Ayres NSW No
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania No
Carol Brown Tasmania No
Kim Carr Victoria No
Patrick Dodson WA No
Katy Gallagher ACT No
Karen Grogan SA No
Jenny McAllister NSW No
Malarndirri McCarthy NT 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
Nita Green Queensland Absent
Helen Polley Tasmania Absent
Glenn Sterle WA Absent
Penny Wong SA Absent
Stirling Griff SA Centre Alliance No
Sam McMahon NT Country Liberal Party Yes
Sue Lines WA Deputy President No
Rex Patrick SA Independent No
Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network Absent
Liberal National Party (100% turnout) 2 Yes 0 No
Matthew Canavan Queensland Yes
James McGrath Queensland Yes
Liberal Party (69% turnout) 15 Yes 5 No
Eric Abetz Tasmania Yes
Alex Antic SA Yes
Wendy Askew Tasmania Yes
Andrew Bragg NSW Yes
Claire Chandler Tasmania Yes
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania Yes
David Fawcett SA Yes
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells NSW Yes
Andrew McLachlan SA Yes
Greg Mirabella Victoria Yes
Matt O'Sullivan WA Yes
Gerard Rennick Queensland Yes
Zed Seselja ACT Yes
Dean Smith WA Yes
Amanda Stoker Queensland Yes
Simon Birmingham SA No
Richard Colbeck Tasmania No
Sarah Henderson Victoria No
Hollie Hughes NSW No
Jim Molan NSW No
Michaelia Cash WA Absent
Jane Hume Victoria Absent
James Paterson Victoria Absent
Marise Payne NSW Absent
Linda Reynolds WA Absent
Anne Ruston SA Absent
Paul Scarr Queensland Absent
Ben Small WA Absent
David Van Victoria Absent
National Party (100% turnout) 3 Yes 0 No
Perin Davey NSW Yes
Susan McDonald Queensland Yes
Bridget McKenzie Victoria Yes
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (50% turnout) 1 Yes 0 No
Malcolm Roberts Queensland Yes
Pauline Hanson Queensland Absent
Slade Brockman WA President Yes
Totals (80% turnout) 29 Yes – 32 No