SenateDivision 2 · 3 Sep 2025

Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving Integrity) Bill 2025 - Third Reading - Pass the bill

Not passed29 aye · 32 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted against a motion to pass the bill in the Senate. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a third time.

What does the bill do?

According to the explanatory memorandum, which is a document prepared by the parties introducing the bill (Liberal Party, United Australia Party, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party and Australia's Voice):

This Bill amends the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 to place statutory minimum staffing guarantees for non-government parliamentarians and to remove the power of the executive to reduce those minima by later determination.

This Bill ensures that all members of Parliament—regardless of political affiliation—have the basic staffing support necessary to do their job, and provides for minimum staffing entitlements in three categories.

First, it provides that Opposition parties will be entitled to at least 110 personal staff (non‑ministerial) or 22 per cent of the Government’s allocation, whichever is greater. This recognises the vital role of the Opposition in holding the Government to account. It also ensures that the proportion of senior staff available to the Opposition reflects that of the Government’s own staffing structure.

Second, the Bill provides that a non‑government party with 8 or more parliamentarians must be allocated at least 25 personal staff, or 5 per cent of the Government’s total allocation, whichever is greater.

Third, the Bill guarantees that independent parliamentarians and parliamentarians who are members of minority parties—where the party has fewer than 8 parliamentarians—must receive at least three personal staff, including one classified as a Senior Adviser.

The Bill also clarifies that the Prime Minister cannot reduce these minimum entitlements through determinations under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 , but may increase them.

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

Third reading: The third reading is the chamber's final vote on the bill in the form it has reached. Passing it sends the bill to the other chamber, or on for assent.

Related bills

Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving Integrity) Bill 2025

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	2	22
Liberal–National Coalition	20	0
Australian Greens	1	10
Pauline Hanson's One Nation	3	0
Independent	1	0
Jacqui Lambie Network	1	0
United Australia Party	1	0

Every vote

AYE (29)

NO (32)

Other divisions this sitting day

What the Senate divided on around this vote, in order.

3 Sep 2025Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving Integrity) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Allocation of personnel staffSenate 40–23
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - DemandsSenate 26–32
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - Criticism of GovernmentSenate 33–22
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - Condemns Prime MinisterSenate 23–33
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - Disabled people under 65 in aged careSenate 12–29
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and another - in Committee - Excluding redress payments from means testingSenate 16–26
3 Sep 2025Motions - Australian National Flag - Suspend the usual rulesSenate 22–32
3 Sep 2025Committees — Finance and Public Administration References Committee; ReferenceSenate 25–29
3 Sep 2025Documents — Parliament House: Sponsored Access; Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 16–30
3 Sep 2025Documents — International Relations: Australia and Nauru; Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 16–30
3 Sep 2025Documents — United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties; Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 27–30
3 Sep 2025Business — Consideration of LegislationSenate 22–34
3 Sep 2025Committees — Economics References Committee; ReferenceSenate 9–37
3 Sep 2025Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 - First Reading - Put the questionSenate 26–12
3 Sep 2025Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 - First Reading - Proceeding without formalitiesSenate 26–12
3 Sep 2025Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 - First Reading - Continue considering the bill in parliamentSenate 26–12
3 Sep 2025Matters of Urgency - Australian National Flag - Put the questionSenate 31–22
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 and another - in Committee - Duration of modification powerSenate 35–21
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 - in Committee - Release of remaining home care packagesSenate 35–20
3 Sep 2025Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2025 - in Committee - Excluding certain redress payments from means testingSenate 14–30
3 Sep 2025Business — RearrangementSenate 26–18