Conscience voting in the Australian federal parliament

Australian Journal of Politics and History

Volumn 54, Issue 4, 2008, Pages 579-596

  Warhurst, John ^a  

^a AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 57049139971     PISSN: 00049522     EISSN: 14678497     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8497.2008.00517.x     Document Type: Article

References (102)

1. But on the euthanasia vote see M. Maddox, For God and Country:Religious Dynamics in Australian Politics (Canberra, 2001), pp 118-120;
2. M. Maddox, God Under Howard:The Rise of the Religious Right in Australian Politics (Crows Nest, NSW, 2005), Chap. 3;
3. S. Broughton and S. Palmieri, "Gendered Contributions to Parliamentary Debates: The Case of Euthanasia", Australian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 34, 1 (March 1999), pp. 29-45.
4. Council of Australian Governments' Meeting, Communique, Canbera, 5 April 2002.
5. Cardinal Clancy, Letter to the Editor, The Australian, 16-17 September 2000;
6. I. Henderson, "Conscience vote would fit the IVF bill", The Australian, 15 August 2000.
7. G. Barns, "Right turn: the Liberal Party raises the stakes", Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 2000;
8. R. Macklin, "Beyond belief that ALP was led willingly into mire of IVF debate", Canberra Times, 19 August 2000.
9. "PM caves in on stem cell vote", The Age, 15 August 2006.
10. S. Maiden, "Same-sex unions spark Lib revolt", The Australian, 16 June 2006.
11. See, for instance, the comments by Patricia Worth (Liberal) and Duncan Kerr (Labor) during the Euthanasia debate, CPD, House, 9 December 1996, pp. 8013-8014.
12. See, for instance, the comments by Gavan O'Connor (Labor) and Peter Slipper (Liberal) during the debate on the splitting of the Embryos and Human Cloning Bill, Commonwealth Parliamentary Debates (CPD), House of Representatives, on 29 August 2002, p. 6127 (O'Connor) and p. 6136 (Slipper).
13. See, for instance, Senator Cook (Labor) during the Research Involving Embryos debate, CPD, Senate, 12 November 2002, p. 6065.
14. CPD, House, 16 February 2006, p. 33.
15. Ibid., p. 36.
16. "Private Members Business", CPD, House, 28 February 2002, p. 6116.
17. Ibid.
18. See, for instance, Anthony Albanese (Labor) during the Euthanasia debate, CPD, House, 9 December 1996, p. 8006; and Senator Cook (Labor) during the Research Involving Embryos debate, CPD Senate, 12 November 2002, p. 6064. Senator Stott Despoja (Democrats) notes the "very clearly orchestrated campaigns" (CPD, Senate, 9 February 2006, p. 52).
19. CPD, House, 16 February 2006, p. 21.
20. During the debate on splitting the Embryos and Prohibition of Human Cloning Bill, CPD, House, 29 August 2002, p. 6158.
21. This was also during the debate on splitting the Embryos and Prohibition of Human Cloning Bill, CPD, House, 29 August 2002, pp. 6145-46. Burke said that "my elder sister is no longer speaking to me". Later, on 16 September, she made a personal explanation on "Stem Cell Research" clarifying family matters (CPD, House, 16 September, p. 6238).
22. D. McKeown and R. Lundie, "Free Votes in Australian and Some Overseas Parliaments", Current Issues Brief, 1, 2002-03, Information and Research Services, Department of the Parliamentary Library, 27 August 2002.
23. D. Jaensch, Getting our Houses in Order (Ringwood, Vic, 1986), p. 45.
24. Ibid., pp. 45-46.
25. McKeown and Lundy, "Free Votes", p. 17, Table 2.
26. H. Sugita, "Parliamentary Performance in the Senate" in J. Warhurst, ed., Keeping the Bastards Honest (St. Leonards, NSW, 1997), p. 157.
27. See, for instance, CPD, Senate, 5 December 2002, Senator Nettle (Greens), p. 7258,
28. Senator Stott Despoja (Democrats), p. 7268.
29. CPD, Senate, 9 February 2006, p. 50.
30. Ibid., p 120.
31. Ibid., p. 18, Table 3.
32. P. Cowley, ed., Conscience and Parliament (London, 1998).
33. See M. Brissenden, "Parliament votes in favour of TGA", 7.30 Report [ABC TV] 16 February.
34. Senators Ian Campbell (for) and Rod Kemp (against) on RU-486 (CPD, Senate, 9 February 2006, p. 54).
35. Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee, Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996, March 1997.
36. See Broughton and Palmieri, "Gendered Contributions to Parliamentary Debates", pp. 31-32 for a short discussion.
37. Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Provisions of the Research Involving Embryos and Prohibition of Human Cloning Bill 2002, October 2002.
38. Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Therapeutic Goods Amendment (Repeal of Ministerial responsibility for approval of RU486) Bill 2005, February 2006.
39. Senator Patterson (CPD, Senate, 12 December 2002, p 6135) observed that there was some expectation that because she supported the Andrews Bill in 1997 she would oppose the Research on Stem Cells Bill in 2002. Senator Conroy (CPD, Senate, 9 February 2006, p 56) pointed out his voting record against euthanasia and for stem cell research in discussing his position on RU-486.
40. CPD, House, 29 August 2002, pp. 6114, 6119.
41. CPD, House, 25 September 2002, p 7171 (S. Smith).
42. Ibid., p 7182.
43. Ibid., p. 7190 for comments by Bernie Ripoll (Labor) on this point.
44. Broughton and Palmieri, "Gendered Contributions to Parliamentary Debates", p. 36.
45. C. Pattie, R. Johnston and M. Stuart, "Voting without Party?" in P. Cowley, ed., Conscience and Parliament (London, 1998.
46. Ibid., p. 146.
47. Ibid., p. 156.
48. Quoted in Maddox, God Under Howard, p. 52.
49. Broughton and Palmieri, "Gendered Contributions to Parliamentary Debates", p. 36.
50. These figures were calculated from Broughton and Palmieri, Table 3.
51. R. Albury, The Politics of Reproduction: Beyond the Slogans (St. Leonards, NSW, 1999).
52. Pattie et al., "Voting without Party?", p. 159.
53. M. Sawer and M. Simms, A Woman's Place: Women and Politics in Australia (St. Leonards, NSW, 1993), p. 164.
54. Ibid.
55. Ibid., pp. 164-168, 233;
56. see also E. van Acker, Different Voices: Gender and Politics in Australia (South Melbourne, 1999), pp. 58-60.
57. Broughton and Palmieri, "Gendered Contributiions to Parliamentary Debates", Tables 1-3.
58. Ibid., p. 43
59. The women who voted No were Draper, J. Kelly, Panopoulos and Vale (all Liberal), and D-A. Kelly (National) and Senators Coonan (Liberal) and Stephens and Collins (Labor).
60. CPD, Senate, 16 February 2006, p 41.
61. Ibid., p. 34.
62. The full list of those who voted No is Bishop, Draper, J. Kelly, Markus, Panopoulos and Vale (all Liberal) and D-A Kelly (National) and Senators Fierravanti-Wells (Liberal) and Polley and Stephens (Labor). Markus and Fierravanti-Wells are the new Liberals from New South Wales.
63. Pattie et al., "Voting without Party?", p. 159.
64. Ibid., pp. 162, 163.
65. Maddox, For God and Country; eadem, God Under Howard;
66. A. Lohrey, Voting Yes for Jesus: Christianity and Politics in Australia, Quarterly Essay 22 (Melbourne, 2006).
67. Maddox, For God and Country, pp. 199-234.
68. See, for instance, the interchange between Senator Schacht (Labor) and Senator Bob Collins (Labor), CPD, Senate, 25 March 1977, p. 2328.
69. J. Warhurst, "Catholic Voices in Australian Politics", Public Policy, Vol. 1, 2 (2006), pp. 102-109.
70. This topic is the subject of another paper, "The Catholic Lobby: Religious networks and public policy", Public Policy Network conference, Adelaide, February 2007.
71. CPD, House, 9 December 1996, p. 8001.
72. Ibid., p 8021. Peter Slipper (Liberal) supported Abbott and referred to the lobbying role of the Anglican Church and Archbishop Peter Hollingworth.
73. CPD, Senate, 12 November 2002, p. 6059.
74. CPD, Senate, 14 November 2002, p. 6345.
75. D. Shanahan, "Abbott condemns 'sectarian' critics", The Australian , 9 February 2006;
76. D. Shanahan, "Morality issues can't be ducked", The Australian, 10 February 2006.
77. Quoted in Shanahan "Abbott condemns 'sectarian' critics".
78. Herald Sun, 10 February 2006.
79. C. Pearson, "Bigotry makes a rebirth", Weekend Australian, 11-12 February 2006.
80. CPD, House, 16 February 2006, p. 35. See also Alexander Downer, p. 44.
81. CPD, Senate, 9 February 2006, p 33. See also the comments by a Labor opponent of the bill, Senator Stephens, p. 26.
82. J. Rydon, A Federal Legislature:The Australian Commonwealth Parliament (Melbourne, 1986), p. 132.
83. st Parliament: Middle-aged, Well Educated and (mostly) Male, Information and Research Services", Parliamentary Library, Research Note, 24, 2005-06, 24 February 2006.
84. Some of the more extensive and interesting discussions among Liberals include Brendan Nelson (CPD, House, 16 February 2006, p. 31); Alexander Downer (ibid., p. 44);
85. Bruce Baird (ibid., p. 45);
86. George Brandis (CPD Senate, 9 February 2006, p. 23); and Amanda Vanstone, an Anglican with a Catholic step-father (ibid., p. 33).
87. Maddox, For God and Country, pp. 201-208.
88. See for instance, Phillip Barresi (Liberal), CPD, House, 16 February 2006, p. 31.
89. G. Chan, Weekend Australian, 16-17 September 2000.
90. I do not have a list of the leadership and/or membership of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship.
91. Maddox, For God and Country, pp. 201-208.
92. Ibid., pp. 204-205.
93. See the website: 〈Australiaschristianheritageforum.org.au/about- us/politicians.aspx〉.
94. Chan, Weekend Australian, 16/17 September 2000.
95. For example, ABC Compass, "What our leaders believe", [video ABC, 2004].
96. The full list on which this table was constructed is: (Christian) - Anderson, Andrews, Baird, Beazley, Bradford, Byrne, Cadman, Costello, Downer, Forrest, Garrett, Howard, Markus, Murphy, Quick, Rudd, Vale and senators Barnett, Chapman, Fielding, Joyce, Polley, Lees, Tierney, Herron and Woodley. Of these, Andrews, Murphy, Joyce and Herron are Catholics included on this list because of their role either in the Lyons Forum or the Christian Heritage Forum. (Catholics) - Abbott, Andrews, Anthony Burke, Fahey, Hockey, King, McGauran, Murphy, Nelson, Gavan O'Connor, Pyne, Robb, Turnbull, Vaile, Worth and Senators Aiston, Boswell, Brandis, Jacinta Collins, Coonan, Harradine, Herron, Joyce, Mason, McGauran, Parer, Santoro, and Stephens. (Humanists) - Latham, Lawrence and Senators Bob Brown, Nettle and Schacht. Others who would have been included, but they did not cast a conscience vote, were Fischer (Catholic), Home (Humanist) and Miles (Christian).
97. This conclusion is on the basis of one vote only. Woodley supported the Andrews anti-euthanasia bill but did not vote on either of the other two bills.
98. See the references by Senator Carol Brown (CPD, Senate, 9 February 2006, p. 35) and Stuart Henry (CPD, House, 16 February 2006, p. 47).
99. CPD, House, 16 February 2006, p. 45. Baird pointed out also that, when a member of the New South Wales Parliament, he had supported decriminalization of homosexual relations between consenting adults in 1984.
100. A. Black "Organised Irreligion: The New South Wales Humanist Association" in A. Black and P. Glasner, eds, Practice and Belief: Studies in the Sociology of Australian Religion (St. Leonards, NSW, 1983), pp. 154-156.
101. See CPD, Senate, 5 December 2002, p. 7239. Brown supported an amendment removing such exclusions that was moved by Senator Harradine.
102. Senator Coonan, for instance, explained to the Senate that she had decided not to support the stem cell research bill because of her "personal misgivings" but she acknowledged "the broad community support for research that may lead to the development of potential stem cell therapies" (CPD, Senate, 12 November, p. 6114).