Matters of Urgency

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson (One Nation), which means it succeeded.

What is a matter of urgency?

According to the parliamentary website:

A vote on an urgency motion is technically a vote on whether the subject of the motion is a matter of urgency. The vote is often regarded, however, as a vote on the substantive matter. The motion may therefore be cast in terms that make it difficult for a party to vote one way or the other on the motion. Chapter 9 of Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice gives the following example:

…if the motion is to declare that the level of unemployment is a matter of urgency, a vote on the motion is regarded as a test of the Senate’s attitude to the level of unemployment. If the party supporting the ministry votes against the motion this may be regarded as an expression of indifference on unemployment, but if the party votes for the motion this may be regarded as a confession of ministerial failure.

If an urgency motion is agreed to, any senator may move, without notice under standing order 154, that the resolution be transmitted by message to the House of Representatives for its concurrence.

Motion text

That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

"That Australia's dairy farmers are facing ruin and the government must take action to ensure they are paid a fair farm gate price for their milk."