Greens-Liberal-Deal in Victoria Victorian Greens Parliamentary Voting Record 19 December 2006 to 22 June 2007  Melbourne 23 June 2007 This table provides details on how the Greens and other parties have voted in the Legislative Council on government bills and non-government motions. To date, most of the legislation the government has put up has passed because it was uncontentious. Of the remaining bills, about half have passed with Greens support and the other half with Liberal or National support, despite Green opposition. Only one Bill has failed entirely. The most notable items where the Greens have voted with the other non-government parties, with the government opposing, have been on measures to improve scrutiny of the executive government by the parliament, by way of perfectly sensible amendments to the Legislative Council sessional orders and the establishment of upper house select committees. There was nothing to stop the government supporting these measures in the interests of good government. If you are interested in reading the debates on the bills or non government motions in the Legislative Council, go to Hansard and Search under the name of the bill or motion, the date and/or the name of the speaker/s. A Government Bill is a proposed law presented by the government in the form of a draft Act of Parliament. Most Bills introduced into the Legislative Council have previously been initiated and dealt with by the Legislative Assembly. The overwhelming majority of Bills initiated in the Victorian Parliament fall into this latter category. For instance, in the five years up to 30 June 2004, only 34 (or 7.9%) of 428 Bills were initiated in the Council. General (non government) Business takes the form of motions (or private members' bills, of which there have been none so far in this parliamentary session) that are listed by non government members on the notice paper and debated by agreement of the Council on Wednesday mornings, with an option to extend the time hour by hour if the Council agrees. Date Passed Title of Proposed Government Bill or General (non-government) Business How all parties voted 21 Jun 2007 APPROPRIATION (2007/2008) BILL 2007 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 20 Jun 2007 WATER ACTS AMENDMENT (ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER MATTERS) BILL 2007 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 20 Jun 2007 Non government business PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE - INVESTMENT Motion, moved by Mr Gordon Rich-Phillips (Lib) noting the failure of the State Government, over seven years, to facilitate the required investment in public infrastructure to ensure the security of supply and reliability of water, electricity, public transport and the road network. Pending 19 Jun 2007 PAYROLL TAX BILL 2007 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 19 Jun 2007 COURTS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (JUDICIAL EDUCATION AND OTHER MATTERS) BILL 2007 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 19 Jun 2007 PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AMENDMENT BILL 2007 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 19 Jun 2007 HEALTH PROFESSIONS REGISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL 2007 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 6 Jun 2007 STATE TAXATION AND GAMBLING LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (BUDGET MEASURES) BILL 2007 The Greens proposed an amendment (supported by Nationals & DLP) that would have granted a lower tax rate for all hybrid and electric vehicles irrespective of vehicle size or price. The Greens opposed the whole of clause 4 - this was not supported by any party. The bill finally passed with the support of all parties. Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 6 Jun 2007 APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENT 2007/2008) BILL 2007 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 5 Jun 2007 STATUTE LAW REPEALS BILL 2006 Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 24 May 2007 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AMENDMENT BILL The Greens proposed amendments to protected workers from being discriminated against if they express dissatisfaction with or seek to improve their working entitlements. The Greens also sought to widen the scope of the bill and moved additional amendments to remove the exemptions afforded to small business and religious schools with regard to employment. Only DLP supported first Greens amendments. All parties opposed Greens second amendments. The bill was subsequently passed with Greens support. Grn-For ALP-For Lib-Against Nat-Against DLP-For 23 May 2007 Non government business OFFICE OF HOUSING - CONTRACTS Grn-Against ALP-Against Lib-For Nat-Against DLP-Against 22 May 2007 FAIR TRADING AND CONSUMER ACTS AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 22 May 2007 GAMBLING AND RACING LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (SPORTS BETTING) BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 22 May 2007 HOWARD FLOREY INSTITUTE OF EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY AND MEDICINE (REPEAL) BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 22 May 2007 STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL Grn-For ALP -For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 3 May 2007 INFERTILITY TREATMENT AMENDMENT BILL Conscience vote by all members - bill passed by both houses. Conscience vote 2 May 2007 ROAD LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-Against Nat-For DLP-For 2 May 2007 SELECT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LAND DEVELOPMENT - Establishment Non government business This motion proposed to establish a select committee to inquire into the sale or alienation of public land for development with special reference to Melbourne 2030 and Green Wedges. The motion was supported by all non-government parties and opposed by the government. Grn-For ALP-Against Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 1 May 2007 MAJOR EVENTS (AERIAL ADVERTISING) BILL Greens concerned it may impact on freedom of protest. Greens proposed amendments to exempt not-for-profit organisations or organisations established for a public purpose where no commercial interest was being compromised. Greens and DLP VS ALP, Liberals and Nationals on our amendments. The Bill passed without the Greens amendments. Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 1 May 2007 DRUGS, POISONS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AMENDMENT (REPEAL OF PART X) BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 1 May 2007 LEGAL PROFESSION AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 19 Apr 2007 GAMBLING REGULATION AMENDMENT (REVIEW PANEL) BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 19 Apr 2007 NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES (PROHIBITIONS) AMENDMENT (PLEBISCITE) BILL The bill as introduced to the Council vested a single minister with the power to frame the question and circumstances of any plebiscite put to the people. The Greens proposed amendments giving that power to Parliament. Greens, Liberals, DLP VS ALP and Nationals on our amendments. This is the only government bill that has not passed in the Legislative Council. Grn-Against ALP-For Lib-Against Nat-Against DLP-Against 18 Apr 2007 LIVESTOCK DISEASE CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 18 Apr 2007 Non government business SELECT COMMITTEE ON DESALINATION - Proposed establishment The Liberal party proposed a select committee to investigate the feasibility of desalination as a water option for Melbourne (Liberal policy at the state election). The Greens voted with the government to defeat the motion on the grounds that it would be energy intensive and posed environmental problems in relation to the highly saline waste stream. Grn-Against ALP-Against Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 17 Apr 2007 VICTIMS OF CRIME ASSISTANCE AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 17 Apr 2007 PRAHRAN MECHANICS INSTITUTE AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 15 Mar 2007 PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS AMENDMENT BILL 2006 Grn-For ALP -For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 15 Mar 2007 PARLIAMENTARY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL The bill proposed amendments to the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003 regarding the structure and constitution of joint investigatory parliamentary committees and to allow the committee system to focus on the government's commitments to the state's economic and infrastructure development and rural and regional Victoria. (Second reading speech). It also amended the Parliamentary Salaries and Superannuation Act 1968 to increase the remuneration of certain MPs serving in senior positions on joint investigatory parliamentary committees. A Greens amendment (based on an amendment moved by Mr Ingram in the lower house) sought to include Public Works within the scope of the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee. It did not go to a vote. The Greens proposed another amendment requiring that the Public Accounts & Estimates Committee be chaired by a non government member and contain a majority of non government members - this was argued by the Greens on best practice‚ audit and governance grounds. It was supported only by the Liberals and DLP. The Government thereby preserved its majority membership on all joint house committees and the chair of all committees except the Rural and Regional Committee, chaired by the Nationals. The Greens, Liberals and DLP also opposed the salary increases to Committee chairs, but these were carried with the Nationals supporting the government. The bill entrenched party status at eleven members of parliament, but reduced the existing requirement from four upper house members to two, which coincides with the result the National Party achieved at the 2006 election. The bill passed with Nationals support. Grn-Against ALP -For Lib-Against Nat-For DLP-Against 15 Mar 2007 PAY-ROLL TAX AMENDMENT (BUSHFIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE) BILL Grn-For ALP -For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 14 Mar 2007 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - Production of Documents Non government business This motion asserted the right of the Council to compel any document or person to be produced on demand. The Greens case was based on parliamentary practice in the Senate and NSW and the powers conferred on the Victorian parliament via the Westminster system. Government members argued that they had a constitutional right to refuse a document in certain circumstances. The motion was supported by all non-government parties and opposed by the government. Grn-For ALP-Against Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 14 Mar 2007 WATER AMENDMENT (CRITICAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS) BILL Greens concerned it gave the Planning Minister too much power and no transparency on planning controls. Final bill included Liberal amendments supported by the Greens. Grn-For ALP -For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 1 Mar 2006 MURRAY-DARLING BASIN AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP -For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 28 Feb 2007 CONTROL OF WEAPONS AMENDMENT (PENALTIES) BILL Grn-For ALP -For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 28 Feb 2007 Non government business BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - Sessional Orders All non government parties supported several changes to the sessional orders including the abolition of speaking time limits and expansion of the time allowed for non government business on Wednesdays. The Greens successfully moved an amendment regarding establishing an obligation on Upper House ministers to take questions without notice on matters where the relevant minister sat in the Legislative Assembly (Lower House), as is the practice in the Senate and other parliaments. Previously these questions were taken on notice and procedures to deal with unanswered questions on notice. The motion was supported by all non-government parties and opposed by the government. Grn-For ALP-Against Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 27 Feb 2006 INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL Grn-For ALP -For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 14 Feb 2007 Non government business SELECT COMMITTEE ON GAMING LICENSING - Establishment While formally moved by the Liberals, the Greens were instrumental in proposing key aspects of the composition and scope of this committee - the first Upper House select committee. The motion was supported by all non-government parties and opposed by the government. Grn-For ALP-Against Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For 21 Dec 2006 STATE TAXATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (HOUSING AFFORDABILITY) BILL Grn-For ALP-For Lib-For Nat-For DLP-For BACK	.
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