Voting Record - 47th Parliament

 

How I vote

As an independent, I consider each legislation on its merits and seek to represent the views of the Warringah community. When I evaluate proposed legislation, I follow this process:

  1. The drafting or technical aspects of proposed legislation
    Is it good at law and does it represent good governance? Is it constitutionally sound?
  2. Intended effects and the evidence in support of the legislation
    What does this seek to do? Is the evidence base rigorous? Is this legislation necessary?
  3. Effect on Warringah
    How will the legislation affect Warringah and Australia? Is this good for the future of the community?
  4. Community views and feedback
    What are the views expressed in submissions from individuals, groups and organisations? What are the subject matter experts saying? What does relevant business think? What is the legal profession’s position?
  5. Ethics of the bill
    Is it ethical? Is it compatible with human rights and international law?

Finally, I also consider the way the legislation has been drafted and presented.

  1. Has there been consultation? Drafts circulated? Briefings?
  2. Has the bill had sufficient time for debate? Has it been properly scrutinised?
  3. What are the politics behind the bill?

 

My voting record (12 Sept 2024 update)

Over 80% of legislation passes the final approval point in the House of Representatives without a vote (known as the third reading). This is known as passing on the voices.

If you would like to see my complete voting record, please visit the Australian Parliament House website.

Legislation

Category includes motions on bills and delegated legislation: second readings (50 divisions held) and third readings (10 divisions held) of Bills, Bills ‘be agreed to/ ‘as amended be agreed to’ motions (17 divisions held), second reading amendment motions (67 divisions held)—these include motions which ask the Parliament to take a position on an issue relevant to the topic of a Bill—amendments to Bills (176 divisions held), and motions on delegated legislation like disallowances (3 divisions held).

I have attended 95% or 307 of the 323 divisions held on legislation, of these I:

  • Voted with the Government: 46% of the time (against 54%)
  • Voted with the Opposition: 27% of the time (against 73%)
  • Voted against the Government and Opposition: 82% of the time that the Govt and Opp voted together (with Govt and Opp 18%)

Procedural and other motions

Category includes procedural motions: suspensions of standing orders (72 divisions held), closures (33 divisions held), adjourning debates (12 divisions held), other motions on the timing of considering legislation/debate (8 divisions held), motions on standing orders (3 divisions held), motions on the sitting calendar (2 divisions held), and a dissent to Speakers’ ruling (1 division held).
Category also includes non-legislative substantive motions: opinion motions (6 divisions held), committee-related motions (4 divisions held), and a censure motion (1 divisions held).

I have attended 85% or 120 of the 142 divisions held on procedural and other motions, of these I:

  • Voted with the Government: 28% of the time (against 72%)
  • Voted with the Opposition: 47% of the time (against 53%)
  • Voted against the Government and Opposition: 94% of the time that the Govt and Opp voted together (with Govt and Opp 6%)

Closure (‘gag’) motions

Category includes: closure of question (the ‘gag’) motions and closure of Member motions.

In the 47th Parliament, I have attended 79% or 26 of the 33 divisions held on closing debate or stopping an MP from speaking (closure motions). I have supported 4% or 1 closure motion. I have voted against 96% or 25 closure motions.

 

Abstentions

I have been absent from a vote that went to a division 38 times (5%).

5 of the 38 divisions were on procedural motions regarding debates about Israel/Palestine/Gaza. On 4 June 2024, I issued a media release Zali Steggall statement on Gaza stating:

Since the horrific events of 7 October 2023, there have been a number of motions presented in Parliament which have tried to cut across this practice of unity and exploit public distress for political gain. I have abstained from voting on the motions put forward by The Greens, The Member for Kennedy and the Coalition, as in my view, they have been motivated by wedge politics and did not prioritise good governance and social cohesion.

I have not attended the following 5 procedural motions that went to a division on Israel/Palestine/Gaza:

 

Free/conscience votes

In the House of Representatives, during the current Parliament ALP and Coalition MPs were granted a free/conscience vote on the Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022.

There was only 1 division held on the Bill—on the third reading motion—most ALP MPs voted in support of the Bill’s third reading, most Coalition MPs voted against the Bill’s third reading (I voted with most ALP MPs in support of the third reading motion).