Peter Lindsay voted very strongly for suspending the rules to allow a vote to happen (procedural)

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Independent MP Bob Katter, which means that it was rejected. The motion was:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Kennedy [Mr Katter] moving immediately the following motion: That the House immediately debate a matter of national importance, namely the continuing deterioration of the Australian mining industry demonstrated by the announcement by Xstrata that they will not be proceeding with Ernest Henry copper mine at Cloncurry nor the Wandoan Coal Project,(Read more about this announcement here.) costing Queensland 3,200 jobs in construction and over 1,000 permanent jobs thereafter.

Because this motion was unsuccessful, Mr Katter was not able to subsequently move his proposed motion.

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull, which means that it was unsuccessful. The motion was:

That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving immediately - That the House of Representatives: (1) recognises that the Prime Minister and his Government: (a) have acknowledged that it is virtually impossible for single age pensioners to meet essential expenses on the current pension rate, yet have refused to act and instead expect struggling pensioners to wait until yet another review is completed; and (b) have a responsibility to act immediately to ensure that the entire pension payment system appropriately addresses these pressures; (2) affirms the urgency of the Coalition’s pension bill in proposing to: (a) increase the single age pension, single age service pension and the Widow B pension by $30 per week; (b) provide immediate relief to single age pensioners, single age service pensioners and Widow B pensioners struggling with the rising cost of living pressures; and (c) provide the first step in ensuring that the Government acts immediately and accepts its responsibilities to take the urgent action required to assist all pensioners; (3) demands that the Government: (a) allow the Opposition proposal to be debated immediately and in doing so, reflect the will of the Senate in passing the Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Bill 2008 last night; and (b) recognise the urgency of the Coalition’s bill and support its enactment without further delay; and (4) should it refuse to deal with the Coalition’s bill, demands that the Acting Prime Minister immediately introduce the Urgent Relief for Single Age Pensioners Bill 2008 in the House of Representatives with full knowledge that it will pass through this place and through the Senate.

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Liberal MP Petro Georgiou. The motion was:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent order of the day No. 6, private Members’ business, relating to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008, being called on and proceeded with immediately, in light of the following reasons:

(1) the Australian Parliament has enacted more than 30 laws dealing with terrorism since 2001;(The year 2001 is significant due to the events of 11 September in New York City and Washington, which you can read more about here.)

(2) offences and procedures have been established which depart significantly from traditional criminal law principles and practices, and restrict fundamental civil liberties;

(3) it is critical that Parliament and the executive are well informed about the effectiveness and impact of the laws;

(4) however, the machinery of vigilance in Australia is deficient—reviews to date have been sporadic and fragmented and with limited mandates. Important issues have not been addressed;

(5) a credible new mechanism of review is essential;

(6) the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has twice recommended the establishment of the position of Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws, to provide a more integrated and ongoing approach to monitoring the laws;

(7) the committee considered that creation of the position would contribute positively to community confidence as well as provide the Parliament with regular factual reports;

(8) the committee’s recommendation was made unanimously on a bipartisan basis;

(9) the appointment of an Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws has been supported by other authoritative commentators, including the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and the President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; and

(10) Parliament should have an immediate opportunity to consider this bill to establish a safeguard for the protection of our security and our rights, one which has been strongly endorsed across the political spectrum and within civil society.

Because this motion to suspend standing orders was rejected, Mr Georgiou cannot move the above motion in respect to an Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws.

References

The majority voted in favour of a motion to let a vote happen. In parliamentary jargon, the majority voted in favour of suspending standing orders.

Motion text

That:

(1) so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended in relation to proceedings on the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007 such that, at the conclusion of the second reading debate, not including a Minister speaking in reply, or at 1 p.m. on Wednesday 8 August 2007, whichever is the earlier, a Minister be called to sum up the second reading debate and thereafter, without delay, the immediate question before the House be put, then any question or questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of the Bill be put without amendment or debate; and

(2) any variation to this arrangement be made only by a motion moved by a Minister.