edited
4th Aug 2024
Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea
Passed by a large majority
No rebellions 45% attendance
26th Jun 2024, 10:31 AM – Senate Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea
Summary
EditThe majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the main idea of the bill. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a second time.
What does this bill do?
According to the explanatory memorandum (which is a document prepared by the government):
The Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2024 amends the Governor-General Act 1974 to set the salary for the next Governor-General, Ms Samantha Mostyn AC, prior to her swearing-in on 1 July 2024.
Section 3 of the Constitution provides that the salary of the Governor-General shall not be altered during their continuance in office. The Bill amends the Governor-General Act to change the sum payable for the salary of the Governor-General from $495,000 to $709,017.
In line with past practice, the proposed salary is calculated by reference to the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia over the notional five-year term of the appointment of the Governor-General. Where, in the past, a Governor-General has been the recipient of other Commonwealth entitlements - such as a judicial pension - the annual salary has been adjusted accordingly. Ms Mostyn is not a recipient of any such entitlements.
Votes Passed by a modest majority
Nobody rebelled against their party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (91% turnout) | 0 Yes – 10 No | |
| Penny Allman-Payne Queensland | No | |
| Dorinda Cox WA | No | |
| Mehreen Faruqi NSW | No | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | No | |
| Steph Hodgins-May Victoria | No | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | No | |
| David Shoebridge NSW | No | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | No | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | No | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | No | |
| Barbara Pocock SA | Absent | |
| Australian Labor Party (88% turnout) | 22 Yes – 0 No | |
| Tim Ayres NSW | Yes | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | Yes | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | Yes | |
| Raff Ciccone Victoria | Yes | |
| Lisa Darmanin Victoria | Yes | |
| Don Farrell SA | Yes | |
| Varun Ghosh WA | Yes | |
| Nita Green Queensland | Yes | |
| Karen Grogan SA | Yes | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | Yes | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | Yes | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | Yes | |
| Fatima Payman WA | Yes | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | Yes | |
| Louise Pratt WA | Yes | |
| Tony Sheldon NSW | Yes | |
| Marielle Smith SA | Yes | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | Yes | |
| Jana Stewart Victoria | Yes | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | Yes | |
| Jess Walsh Victoria | Yes | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Absent | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT Country Liberal Party | Absent | |
| Andrew McLachlan SA Deputy President | Absent | |
| David Pocock ACT Independent | Absent | |
| Lidia Thorpe Victoria Independent | Absent | |
| David Van Victoria Independent | Absent | |
| Jacqui Lambie Network (50% turnout) | 1 Yes – 0 No | |
| Tammy Tyrrell Tasmania | Yes | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania | Absent | |
| Liberal National Party (50% turnout) | 1 Yes – 0 No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | Yes | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (13% turnout) | 3 Yes – 0 No | |
| Richard Colbeck Tasmania | Yes | |
| Matt O'Sullivan WA | Yes | |
| Anne Ruston SA | Yes | |
| Alex Antic SA | Absent | |
| Wendy Askew Tasmania | Absent | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Andrew Bragg NSW | Absent | |
| Slade Brockman WA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Claire Chandler Tasmania | Absent | |
| Jonathon Duniam Tasmania | Absent | |
| David Fawcett SA | Absent | |
| Sarah Henderson Victoria | Absent | |
| Hollie Hughes NSW | Absent | |
| Jane Hume Victoria | Absent | |
| Maria Kovacic NSW | Absent | |
| Kerrynne Liddle SA | Absent | |
| James Paterson Victoria | Absent | |
| Gerard Rennick Queensland | Absent | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | Absent | |
| Paul Scarr Queensland | Absent | |
| Dave Sharma NSW | Absent | |
| Dean Smith WA | Absent | |
| National Party (0% turnout) | Absent | |
| Ross Cadell NSW | Absent | |
| Perin Davey NSW | Absent | |
| Susan McDonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | Absent | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (50% turnout) | 0 Yes – 1 No | |
| Malcolm Roberts Queensland | No | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | Absent | |
| Sue Lines WA President | Absent | |
| Ralph Babet Victoria United Australia Party | No | |
| Totals (51% turnout) | 27 Yes – 12 No |
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.