Senate Division 9 · 1 Sep 2025

Motions - Australia: Racism - Free speech and lawful assembly

Negatived 28 aye · 37 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted against an amendment introduced under the name of West Australian Senator Michaelia Cash (Liberal). This means it was unsuccessful and the original motion will remain unchanged.

Amendment text

Omit all words after "That the Senate", substitute:

"(a) reaffirms Australia's commitment to free speech and lawful assembly, and condemns all forms of extremism, intimidation, and violence, regardless of the cause;

(b) condemns the recent disruption of public rallies by Neo-Nazis, pro-Iranian Government extremists and those supporting terrorist organisations; and

(c) condemns the public display of symbols, slogans, or imagery that glorify or support proscribed terrorist organisations and urges the strict enforcement of existing laws against the glorification of terrorism and incitement to violence".

Original motion text

That the Senate:

1. Condemns the racist, white supremacist, and anti-immigrant rallies held over the weekend and condemns the support of and attendance at the rallies by MPs;

2. Notes:

a. That racism and anti-immigrant hate has been normalised and legitimised in this country by politicians and by the media who fan the flames of hate;

b. That dog whistling on migrants, refugees and international students by politicians of all stripes has emboldened the far-right;

c. That politicians have used hate, fear and scapegoating to cover up their own policy failures on the housing and cost of living crises; and

d. That the alarm has been sounded on far-right extremism for years and has been routinely ignored; and

3. Reiterates its solidarity with the communities who bear the brunt of white supremacy, Neo-Nazism, and right-wing extremism.

Context written by They Vote For You volunteers (ODbL), reproduced unchanged.

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	0	25
Liberal–National Coalition	23	0
Australian Greens	0	12
Pauline Hanson's One Nation	3	0
United Australia Party	1	0
Independent	1	0

Every vote

AYE (28)

NO (37)

Divisions this sitting day

Every division the Senate held that day, in order; the one on this page is marked.

Division 1 Budget — Consideration by Estimates Committees Negatived Senate 26–33
Division 2 Budget — Consideration by Estimates Committees Carried Senate 32–24
Division 3 Budget — Consideration by Estimates Committees Negatived Senate 24–32
Division 4 National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Criticism of Government Negatived Senate 22–34
Division 5 National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Supply of medicine Carried Senate 28–24
Division 6 National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Dentistry Negatived Senate 12–24
Division 7 National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 - in Committee - Further reducing general patient charge Negatived Senate 15–27
Division 8 Motions - Australia: Racism - Condemn Negatived Senate 13–38
Division 9 Motions - Australia: Racism - Free speech and lawful assembly Negatived Senate 28–37
Division 10 Motions - Australia: Racism - Camp Sovereignty Carried Senate 39–28
Division 11 Motions - Australia: Racism - Reject and condemn Carried Senate 39–28
Division 12 Motions - Australia: Racism - Reject and condemn Carried Senate 39–28
Division 13 Documents — National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan; Order for the Production of Documents Carried Senate 36–22
Division 14 Matters of Urgency - Gas Industry - Fix leak Negatived Senate 12–28