Bill
Acts Interpretation Amendment (Aboriginality) Bill 2023
lapsed, as at 2023-06-14.
- Sponsor
- Pauline Hanson
- Portfolio
- Not recorded
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2023-05-11
- introduced — 2023-05-11
- introduced — 2023-06-14
Divisions
- The large majority voted against giving this bill a first reading. In other words, they did not want to consider the bill at all and have rejected it. Only three senators supported giving the bill a first reading: Queensland Senators [Pauline Hanson](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/pauline_hanson) and [Malcolm Roberts](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/malcolm_roberts) (both from One Nation) and Victorian Senator [Ralph Babet](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/ralph_babet) (United Australia Party). ### What does the bill do? [The bill](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/s1378) would change the definition of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person in the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 by adding the [following section](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=LEGISLATION;id=legislation%2Fbills%2Fs1378_first-senate%2F0001;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbills%2Fs1378_first-senate%2F0000%22;rec=0): > *2N Person of the Aboriginal race of Australia , indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Islands, etc.* > > *(1) In any Act, a reference to a person of the Aboriginal race of Australia, to a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia or to a descendant of an indigenous inhabitant of Australia is a reference to a person who is a member of a registered native title body corporate (within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 ) that holds the native title rights and interests of an area of land or waters other than in the Torres Strait.* > > *(2) In any Act, a reference to a descendant of an indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Islands is a reference to a person who is a member of a registered native title body corporate (within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 ) that holds the native title rights and interests of an area of land or waters in the Torres Strait.* Its purpose seems to be to ensure that only those — 2023-05-11, Senate: negative, ayes 3, noes 44
- The large majority voted against giving this bill a first reading. In other words, they did not want to consider the bill at all and have rejected it. Note that this is the second time this vote has been taken, with this same motion previously introduced and rejected on [11 May 2023](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2023-05-11/5). This time around, it had the support of four senators: Queensland Senators [Pauline Hanson](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/pauline_hanson) and [Malcolm Roberts](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/malcolm_roberts) (both from One Nation) and Tasmanian Senators [Jacqui Lambie](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/tasmania/jacqui_lambie) and [Tammy Tyrell](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/tasmania/tammy_tyrrell) (both from the Jacqui Lambie Network). ### What does the bill do? [The bill](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/s1378) would change the definition of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person in the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 by adding the [following section](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=LEGISLATION;id=legislation%2Fbills%2Fs1378_first-senate%2F0001;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbills%2Fs1378_first-senate%2F0000%22;rec=0): > *2N Person of the Aboriginal race of Australia , indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Islands, etc.* > > *(1) In any Act, a reference to a person of the Aboriginal race of Australia, to a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia or to a descendant of an indigenous inhabitant of Australia is a reference to a person who is a member of a registered native title body corporate (within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 ) that holds the native title rights and interests of an area of land or waters other than in the Torres Strait.* > > *(2) In any Act, a reference to a descendant of an indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Isl — 2023-06-14, Senate: negative, ayes 4, noes 44
- The large majority voted against a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2023-06-13.160.2): > *That the Acts Interpretation Amendment (Aboriginality) Bill 2023 be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 4 September 2023.* Queensland Senator [Pauline Hanson](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/pauline_hanson) has attempted to get this bill considered twice: once on [11 May 2023](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2023-05-11/5) and once on [14 June 2023](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2023-06-14/2). Both times it was rejected by the large majority. ### What does the bill do? [The bill](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/s1378) would change the definition of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person in the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 by adding the [following section](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=LEGISLATION;id=legislation%2Fbills%2Fs1378_first-senate%2F0001;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbills%2Fs1378_first-senate%2F0000%22;rec=0): > *2N Person of the Aboriginal race of Australia , indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Islands, etc.* > > *(1) In any Act, a reference to a person of the Aboriginal race of Australia, to a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia or to a descendant of an indigenous inhabitant of Australia is a reference to a person who is a member of a registered native title body corporate (within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 ) that holds the native title rights and interests of an area of land or waters other than in the Torres Strait.* > > *(2) In any Act, a reference to a descendant of an indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Islands is a reference to a person who is a member of a registered native title body corporate (within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 ) that holds the native title rights and inter — 2023-06-14, Senate: negative, ayes 4, noes 38
Plain-language summary
No machine-written summary in this export.
Sources
billhome