14th Aug 2024, 6:22 PM – Senate Regulations and Determinations - Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2024 - Disallow
Summary
EditThe majority voted against a motion to disallow the Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2024, which means they will remain in power. The motion was introduced by NSW Senator David Shoebridge (Greens).
Motion text
That the Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2024, made under the Migration Act 1958, be disallowed [F2024L00790].
What do these regulations do?
According to the regulation's explanatory memorandum:
The Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act) is an Act relating to the entry into, and presence in, Australia of aliens, and the departure or deportation from Australia of aliens and certain other persons.
Subsection 504(1) of the Migration Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Migration Act, prescribing matters required or permitted to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to the Migration Act.
Subsection 45B(1) of the Migration Act provides that the amount of the visa application charge (VAC) is the amount, not exceeding the VAC limit, prescribed by the Migration Regulations 1994 (the Migration Regulations) in relation to the visa application. The VAC limit is calculated with reference to sections 5 and 6 of the Migration (Visa Application) Charge Act 1997 (the VAC Act).
The purpose of the Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charges) Regulations 2024 (the Amendment Regulations) is to amend the Migration Regulations to implement the annual indexation of VACs in line with the forecast Consumer Price Index (CPI) and rounded to the nearest $5.
Senator Shoebridge argued that:
The Labor government is basically using multicultural diaspora communities in this country as cash cows. It is squeezing money from families trying to build a life here and from students trying to get an education, only to turn around and slap them in the face.
Error in this record (as of 17/08/2024)
Note that this record currently lists West Australian Senator Fatima Payman as a rebel voter, but this is inaccurate as Senator Payman is no longer part of the Labor Party and is now an Independent.
Votes Not passed by a modest majority
There was 1 rebellion in this division.
- Fatima Payman voted Yes against the majority of the Australian Labor Party.
| Party | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Greens (91% turnout) | 10 Yes – 0 No | |
| Penny Allman-Payne Queensland | Yes | |
| Dorinda Cox WA | Yes | |
| Mehreen Faruqi NSW | Yes | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young SA | Yes | |
| Steph Hodgins-May Victoria | Yes | |
| Nick McKim Tasmania | Yes | |
| David Shoebridge NSW | Yes | |
| Jordon Steele-John WA | Yes | |
| Larissa Waters Queensland | Yes | |
| Peter Whish-Wilson Tasmania | Yes | |
| Barbara Pocock SA | Absent | |
| Australian Labor Party (83% turnout) | 1 Yes – 19 No | |
| Fatima Payman WA | Yes | |
| Carol Brown Tasmania | No | |
| Anthony Chisholm Queensland | No | |
| Raff Ciccone Victoria | No | |
| Lisa Darmanin Victoria | No | |
| Varun Ghosh WA | No | |
| Nita Green Queensland | No | |
| Karen Grogan SA | No | |
| Jenny McAllister NSW | No | |
| Malarndirri McCarthy NT | No | |
| Deborah O'Neill NSW | No | |
| Helen Polley Tasmania | No | |
| Louise Pratt WA | No | |
| Tony Sheldon NSW | No | |
| Marielle Smith SA | No | |
| Glenn Sterle WA | No | |
| Jana Stewart Victoria | No | |
| Anne Urquhart Tasmania | No | |
| Jess Walsh Victoria | No | |
| Murray Watt Queensland | No | |
| Tim Ayres NSW | Absent | |
| Catryna Bilyk Tasmania | Absent | |
| Don Farrell SA | Absent | |
| Katy Gallagher ACT | Absent | |
| Penny Wong SA | Absent | |
| Jacinta Nampijinpa Price NT Country Liberal Party | Absent | |
| Andrew McLachlan SA Deputy President | No | |
| David Pocock ACT Independent | Yes | |
| Fatima Payman WA Independent | Absent | |
| Lidia Thorpe Victoria Independent | Absent | |
| Tammy Tyrrell Tasmania Independent | Absent | |
| David Van Victoria Independent | Absent | |
| Jacqui Lambie Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | No | |
| Tammy Tyrrell Tasmania Jacqui Lambie Network | No | |
| Liberal National Party (50% turnout) | 0 Yes – 1 No | |
| James McGrath Queensland | No | |
| Matthew Canavan Queensland | Absent | |
| Liberal Party (9% turnout) | 0 Yes – 2 No | |
| Wendy Askew Tasmania | No | |
| Claire Chandler Tasmania | No | |
| Alex Antic SA | Absent | |
| Simon Birmingham SA | Absent | |
| Andrew Bragg NSW | Absent | |
| Slade Brockman WA | Absent | |
| Michaelia Cash WA | Absent | |
| Richard Colbeck 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 | |
| Matt O'Sullivan WA | Absent | |
| James Paterson Victoria | Absent | |
| Gerard Rennick Queensland | Absent | |
| Linda Reynolds WA | Absent | |
| Anne Ruston SA | Absent | |
| Paul Scarr Queensland | Absent | |
| Dave Sharma NSW | Absent | |
| Dean Smith WA | Absent | |
| National Party (25% turnout) | 0 Yes – 1 No | |
| Bridget McKenzie Victoria | No | |
| Ross Cadell NSW | Absent | |
| Perin Davey NSW | Absent | |
| Susan McDonald Queensland | Absent | |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (0% turnout) | Absent | |
| Pauline Hanson Queensland | Absent | |
| Malcolm Roberts Queensland | Absent | |
| Sue Lines WA President | Absent | |
| Ralph Babet Victoria United Australia Party | Absent | |
| Totals (50% turnout) | 12 Yes – 26 No |
Red entries are rebel votes against the majority of a party.
Turnout is the percentage of members eligible to vote that did vote.