Higher Education

The majority voted in favour of disagreeing with a motion introduced by Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek (Labor), which means it failed. The motion would have suspended the usual procedural rules - known as standing orders - to allow another vote to take place.

Motion text

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Sydney from moving the following motion immediately—That the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) Australia is in its worst recession in nearly a century;

(b) more than one million Australians can't find work, including nearly 350,000 young people;

(c) now is the worst possible time to make it harder and more expensive for Australians to go to university, including more than doubling the cost of degrees for thousands of students;

(d) this week, the government gagged debate on a bill that will make it harder and more expensive for Australians to go to university, preventing proper scrutiny; and

(2) invites the Prime Minister to attend the chamber and make a statement on this matter.