Skip to content
Political Tracker

12 Nov 2020 · 12:13 PM · Division 7

Australian Languages

Role of English in Australia
Official title
Motions - Australian Languages - Role of English in Australia

Tied vote

Aye
28
No
28
Not recorded voting
19

“Not recorded voting” is everyone eligible who isn't recorded as Aye or No, for example absent, paired, or presiding.

What was decided

The same number of senators voted for and against an amended motion introduced by Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe (Greens), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the Senate agrees that:

(a) Australia is a multicultural, multilingual society in which hundreds of languages are spoken;

(b) at least 250 Indigenous languages were spoken on this continent long before colonisation, and many continue to be spoken today;

(c) the Australian citizenship booklet 'Our common bond' contains claims that English is Australia's national language, which have been repeated by the acting Immigration Minister in advocating for onerous new English language proficiency requirements for partner visa applicants and permanent resident sponsors; and

(d) English is the de facto national language but Australians speak many languages at home and at work.

Summary written by They Vote For You contributors. Read it with the debate

Policies this vote counts towards

How They Vote For You uses this vote when scoring members against each policy.

Votes by party

Both bars use the same scale: number of members.
Aye
28
No
28
Votes by party as a table
PartyAyeNo
Liberal Party020
Australian Labor Party160
Australian Greens70
National Party03
Liberal National Party02
Nick Xenophon Team20
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party02
Country Liberal Party01
Independent10
Jacqui Lambie Network10
Senate President10

How each member voted

Aye · 28

No · 28

Spotted a mistake? Report a correction.