SenateDivision 12 · 1 Apr 2026

National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Pass the bill

Passed39 aye · 5 no

What this vote was about

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the remaining stages of the bill (parliamentary jargon for reading the bill a third time), meaning it will now be passed in the Senate. Since the bill has already passed in the House of Representatives, it now becomes law.

Rebellion

South Australian Senator Alex Antic (Liberal) crossed the floor to vote "No" against the rest of the Liberal Party.

What does this bill do?

According to the explanatory memorandum, which a document prepared by the Government (the party that introduced the bill):

The purpose of the National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026 (the Bill) is to amend the definition of ‘vaccine’ in the National Health Act 1953 (the Act) to enable new and emerging technologies to be listed on the National Immunisation Program (the NIP).

The NIP provides free vaccines to eligible individuals in Australia to reduce the incidence and severity of vaccine-preventable diseases. It is an established collaborative program involving the Australian Government and state and territory governments.

The NIP relies on section 9B of the Act, which enables a vaccine to be specified as a ‘designated vaccine’ by legislative instrument. The legislative instrument can only specify vaccines if they are defined within the meaning of ‘vaccine’ under section 4 of the Act. There is no scope to designate another product that is not a vaccine as defined in the Act.

The current definition of ‘vaccine’ in the Act supports the technical meaning of ‘vaccine’ being a substance administered to elicit an immune response – that is a mode of active immunisation. Immunisation products that do not elicit an immune response and provide protection through passive immunological means are unable to be listed on the NIP.

The Bill will broaden the definition of ‘vaccine’ in the Act to enable new and emerging technologies to be listed on the NIP. This amendment will expand access to these necessary products, ensuring the NIP is flexible and fit-for-purpose in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

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

Related bills

National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026

By party

Party	Aye	No
Australian Labor Party	25	0
Australian Greens	11	0
Liberal–National Coalition	2	1
Pauline Hanson's One Nation	0	3
Independent	1	0
United Australia Party	0	1

Every vote

Other divisions this sitting day

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

1 Apr 2026Criminal Code Amendment (Keeping Australia Safe) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main ideaSenate 26–34
1 Apr 2026Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Removing upper limit for urgent payment requestsSenate 12–35
1 Apr 2026Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - 6‑year limit on debt recovery, indexing urgent payment request limitsSenate 13–34
1 Apr 2026Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 1) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Remote area allowanceSenate 17–29
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bills' main ideaSenate 38–20
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Role of the SecretarySenate 22–35
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Role of SecretarySenate 38–21
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - Termination of appointmentsSenate 25–34
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Attorney‑General objection powerSenate 25–34
1 Apr 2026Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025, Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Pass the billSenate 38–21
1 Apr 2026National Health Amendment (Passive Immunological Products) Bill 2026 - Limitation of Debate - Vaccines to be tested against an inert saline placeboSenate 5–43
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - Strengthen alcohol regulationsSenate 34–24
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - Strengthen alcohol regulationsSenate 34–23
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - On-premises consumptionSenate 5–40
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Limitation of Debate - 25 per cent tax on LNG export revenueSenate 12–32
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 and another - Committee of the Whole - Tap spirits and independent reviewSenate 25–32
1 Apr 2026Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025, Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Craft beerSenate 6–38
1 Apr 2026Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Review and statement of reasons for refusing financial servicesSenate 25–34
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Implement Multicultural Framework Review findingsSenate 12–33
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - National frameworkSenate 12–32
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languagesSenate 12–31
1 Apr 2026Translating and Interpreting Services Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Additional objects and Commonwealth‑funded translating and interpreting services frameworkSenate 12–32
1 Apr 2026Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025 - Limitation of Debate - Agree with the bill's main ideaSenate 36–25
1 Apr 2026Committees — Impact of the Conflict in Iran Select Committee; AppointmentSenate 33–27
1 Apr 2026Committees — Impact of the Conflict in Iran Select Committee; AppointmentSenate 27–33
1 Apr 2026Documents — Department of the Treasury, Home Guarantee Scheme; Order for the Production of DocumentsSenate 36–23