How the Independents have voted in the House

In the first session of the 43^rd Parliament, there have been 65 Bills introduced to the House of Representatives up to 18 November.

Of these 65 Bills introduced, 57 have been Government Bills while eight have been Private Member’s Bills.

Only nine Government Bills have gone to a division, and there has been 15 divisions on these nine Bills.

No divisions on Bills have been lost by the Government, as the two divisions lost by the Government were on motions. The speaker has used his casting vote once.

The Government has thus been successful in this session gaining support from the independents on significant pieces of legislation which required a division. Significant Government Bills have included:

• National Health and Hospitals Network Bill 2010 second reading.

o    All independents voted with the Government, including Tony Crook and Bob Katter.

• Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2010.

o    All independents voted with the Government, except for Tony Crook.

• Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2010

o    Supported by Adam Bandt, Robert Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie and Tony Windsor

• Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill

o    Supported by Adam Bandt, Robert Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie and Tony Windsor (Bob Katter was Absent).

A table showing all the divisions from 29 October to 18 November, with brief description of legislation or motion, number of pairs and how each independent voted is available here.

Note pairs are agreed to by party whips on each day of voting.

For more information on each division go to House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings here: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/info/votes/index.htm