Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

We have a senator on the other side who has obviously been engaged in a fair bit of bullyboy work today, but you ought to appreciate this, Senator Macdonald: your actions today will determine whether or not 150,000 students will have support next January. If this motion—that is, that the report from the committee be adopted—is lost on a tied vote it will mean that the Senate effectively has revolved that there will be no support next year for students. It will require one senator to vote in favour who is currently indicating support for the vote against it—Senator Fielding or one senator from the coalition to vote that the committee’s report be adopted. If you do not, 150,000 students will receive no support next January.