92-606: Robert James Brown (born 27 December 1944) is an Australian former politician, medical doctor and environmentalist. He was a senator and the parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens . Brown was elected to the Australian Senate on the Tasmanian Greens ticket, joining with sitting Greens Western Australia senator Dee Margetts to form the first group of Australian Greens senators following
184-545: A Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree. In his early 20s, Brown was inspired by the then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies , and nearly joined the Liberal Party of Australia . Brown practised medicine for a time at the Royal Canberra Hospital . During his tenure at the hospital, he and other senior medical staff took a pacifist stance by refusing to certify young men who did not wish to fight in
276-569: A first-past-the-post and block voting system, on a state-by-state basis. This was replaced in 1919 by preferential block voting . Block voting tended to produce landslide majorities. For instance, from 1920 to 1923 the Nationalist Party held all but one of the 36 seats, and from 1947 to 1950, the Australian Labor Party held all but three. In 1948, single transferable vote with proportional representation on
368-498: A general practitioner in Launceston . He soon became involved in the state's environmental movement , in particular the campaign to save Lake Pedder . By 1972, he was a member of the newly formed United Tasmania Group , Australia's first "green" party . For a period of two years during the 1970s, Brown served time as a member of a Thylacine search team. In 1976, he fasted for a week on top of Mt Wellington in protest against
460-490: A Senate that blocks supply is obliged to either resign or call an election was one of the major disputes of the 1975 constitutional crisis . However, even where the Senate does not block supply, they can still use their power to frustrate the legislative agenda of the government. The overwhelming majority of senators have always been elected as representatives of political parties. Parties which currently have representation in
552-660: A case against Forestry Tasmania citing threats to endangered species like the Swift parrot and Wielangta Stag Beetle . In December 2006, Judge Shane Marshall awarded the case in Brown's favour. On appeal to the full bench of the Federal Court level, the case was lost, without rejecting the earlier judgement that logging would further endanger these species. In May 2008 the High Court denied leave to appeal that decision after
644-624: A decade of service as de facto leader since his election to the Senate in 1996. In February 2007, the Tasmanian State Government and the Australian Federal Government responded by changing the text of the State's Regional Forest Agreement. New clauses make it clear that the word 'protection' relates only to whether the two respective governments deem a species to be protected rather than the meaning of
736-504: A joint sitting of the two houses of parliament. During Bush's speech Brown and Nettle wore signs referring to David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib , two Australian citizens held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba , at that time (Habib was later released without charge and Hicks served a prison term for providing material support for terrorism ), following their apprehension by United States forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan respectively. Bush accepted
828-430: A majority in the Senate and the balance of power has typically rested with minor parties and independents . In practice, this means government bills cannot be assured of passage and regulations may be disallowed. The power to bring down the government and force elections by blocking supply also exists, as happened for the first and thus far only time during the 1975 constitutional crisis . Since major reforms in 1970,
920-631: A party to become an independent, most recently in the cases of Senator Lucy Gichuhi not joining the Conservatives following its merger with Family First, Senators Rod Culleton and Fraser Anning resigning from One Nation, Senator Steve Martin being expelled from the Jacqui Lambie Network, and Lidia Thorpe resigning from the Australian Greens. Tasmanian Wilderness Society The Tasmanian Wilderness Society
1012-469: A period in which polls grew to around 10% at state and federal levels (13.1% of the primary vote in 2010). From 2002 to 2004, when minor parties held the balance of power in the Senate, Brown became a well-recognised politician. In October 2003 Brown was the subject of international media interest when he was suspended from the parliament for interjecting during an address by United States president George W. Bush . On 13 April 2012, Brown resigned as leader of
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#17327907028681104-492: A population of around 500,000, elects the same number of senators as New South Wales , which has a population of more than 8 million. Because of this imbalance, governments favoured by the more populous states are occasionally frustrated by the extra power the smaller states have in the Senate, to the degree that former Prime Minister Paul Keating famously referred to the Senate's members as "unrepresentative swill". The proportional election system within each state ensures that
1196-577: A possible approach to pre-empting this he proposed a Global Parliament. He was met with a standing ovation. The then deputy leader Christine Milne said it was "a very inspiring speech". There was criticism of his approach. At the Global Greens Conference in Dakar, Senegal Africa, 1 April 2012, Bob Brown advocated that there be established a "global parliament" where "every citizen should have an equal say". The final resolution supported by
1288-612: A rally on 2 September 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Brown appeared at another concert in support of the Kimberley cause on 24 February 2013, with musicians Missy Higgins and John Butler also appearing, with the event held at The Esplanade in Fremantle, Western Australia. Jarrah Records, the record label that Butler co-founded with musical trio The Waifs and band manager Phil Stevens, worked in partnership with The Wilderness Society to stage
1380-555: A same-sex partner to highlight discrimination and encourage law reform because homosexual activity in Tasmania remained a crime until 1997. As of 2018 Brown lived in Eggs and Bacon Bay , Tasmania, with his long-time partner, Paul Thomas, a farmer and activist whom he met in 1996. Brown describes himself as a "lapsed Presbyterian ". In an interview with Richard Fidler on ABC radio, Nigel Brennan , an Australian photojournalist who
1472-451: A set of awards in 2012, with South Australian climate activist Daniel Spencer the recipient of the inaugural Young Environmentalist of the Year award, and Tasmanian forest activist Jenny Weber was inaugural Environmentalist of the Year, which came with a prize of A$ 4,000 . It has also given awards to other Australian environmentalists, including Miranda Gibson and Drew Hutton . Brown is
1564-417: A state-by-state basis became the method for electing senators. At this time the number of senators was expanded from 36 to 60 and it was argued that a move to proportional representation was needed to even up the balance between both major parties in the chamber. The change in voting systems has been described as an "institutional revolution" that has had the effect of limiting the government's ability to control
1656-890: A supporter of the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly , an organisation which advocates for democratic reformation of the United Nations. Brown was a speaker at the Save the Kimberley concert, held on 5 October 2012. Held at Federation Square in Melbourne , the concert was part of a long-running campaign to protest against a proposal to industrialise the James Price Point area in Broome, Western Australia . Brown had also addressed
1748-647: A territory expires at the same time as there is an election for the House of Representatives. Section 13 of the Constitution requires that in half-Senate elections, the election of State senators shall take place within one year before the places become vacant. The actual election date is determined by the Governor of each State, who acts on the advice of the State Premier. The Governors almost always act on
1840-753: Is not merely a chamber of review. Instead of being modelled solely after the House of Lords , as the Senate of Canada was, the Australian Senate was in part modelled after the United States Senate , by giving equal representation to each state and almost equal powers with the lower house. This was done to give less populous states a real influence in the Parliament, while also maintaining the traditional review functions upper houses have in
1932-492: Is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia , the lower house being the House of Representatives . The powers, role and composition of the Senate are set out in Chapter I of the federal constitution as well as federal legislation and constitutional convention . There are a total of 76 senators: twelve are elected from each of the six Australian states , regardless of population, and two each representing
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#17327907028682024-539: The 1996 federal election . He was re-elected in 2001 and in 2007 . He was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia and the first openly gay leader of an Australian political party. While serving in the Tasmanian parliament, Brown successfully campaigned for a large increase in the protected wilderness areas. Brown led the Australian Greens from the party's foundation in 1992 until April 2012,
2116-447: The 2016 election to reduce the number of senators of elected with a very small number of first preference votes as a result of the candidates of these micro-parties preferencing each other. In the place of group tickets, a form of optional preferential voting was introduced. As a result of the changes, voters may now assign their preferences for parties above the line (numbering as many boxes as they wish), or individual candidates below
2208-736: The Australian Capital Territory (including the Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island ) and the Northern Territory (including the Australian Indian Ocean Territories ). Senators are popularly elected under the single transferable vote system of proportional representation . Section 24 of the Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall have, as near as practicable, twice as many members as
2300-596: The Port Arthur massacre resulted in a successful federal Liberal bid to achieve the same results. In 1989 Tasmania's system of proportional representation allowed the Greens to win five out of 35 seats in the Tasmanian House of Assembly and Brown became their leader. He agreed to support a minority Labor Party government, on the basis of a negotiated Accord (signed by Michael Field and Bob Brown) in which
2392-483: The Australian Capital Territory also represent voters from the Jervis Bay Territory and since 1 July 2016, Norfolk Island . The latest expansion in Senate numbers took place in 1984, when the number of senators from each state was increased from 10 to 12, resulting in a total of 76 senators. Senators normally serve fixed six-year terms (from 1 July to 30 June). At most federal elections,
2484-476: The Australian Greens and others, was passed. On 13 April 2012, Brown resigned as leader of the Greens and announced that he would be resigning from the Senate in June when his replacement was available. His deputy, Christine Milne, became Greens leader, and federal Melbourne MP Adam Bandt became Greens deputy leader. Peter Whish-Wilson , who had formerly stood for the Greens, was selected as Brown's replacement in
2576-403: The Constitution , the number of members of the House of Representatives has to be "as nearly as practicable" double the number of senators. The reasons for the nexus are twofold: a desire to maintain a constant influence for the smaller states, and maintain a constant balance of the two Houses in the event of a joint sitting after a double dissolution. A referendum in 1967 to eliminate the nexus
2668-512: The Franklin River in 1983. During his first term of office, Brown introduced a wide range of private member's initiatives, which include freedom of information, death with dignity, lowering parliamentary salaries, gay law reform, banning the battery-hen industry and advocation for nuclear free Tasmania. His 1987 bill to ban semi-automatic guns was voted down by both Liberal and Labor members of Tasmania's House of Assembly, nine years before
2760-648: The Green independents agreed to support the budget but not motions of no confidence, and the ALP agreed to develop a more open parliamentary process, to consult on departmental appointments, provide a legislative research service, parity in parliamentary staffing and a reform agenda which included equal opportunities, freedom of information, national parks protection and public disclosure of bulk power contracts and royalties from mining companies. This agreement, however, broke down over forestry issues in 1992. In 1993 Brown resigned from
2852-483: The Greens and indicated his intention to resign from the Senate in June. This occurred on 15 June 2012. Brown was born in Oberon, New South Wales , one of twins, and attended Trunkey Public School, Coffs Harbour High School (1957–60) and Blacktown Boys High School . In his senior year, he was elected school captain . After finishing high school, Brown enrolled in medicine at University of Sydney , where he obtained
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2944-559: The High Court agreed, by a majority although for differing reasons, that the provisions were invalid in that they breached the constitutional freedom of political communication. In August 2016, Brown joined the crew of Sea Shepherd on board their ship Steve Irwin , as it joined the campaign against proposed drilling in the Great Australian Bight . In April 2019 Brown led a convoy of vehicles to protest against
3036-410: The House an advantage in joint sittings but not in ordinary elections, where the Senate may be too evenly balanced to get House legislation through. A party does not need the support of the Senate to form government (needing only a majority in the House of Representatives), however the Senate can block supply, effectively preventing the government from lawfully spending money. Whether a government facing
3128-607: The House of Assembly and stood unsuccessfully for the federal House of Representatives . During 1990–1991 Brown advocated for a merger of the Green Independents with the Australian Democrats to form the "Green Democrats", as opposed to confederating with other Green Parties and forming the Australian Greens . However, following a change in leadership in the Democrats, this plan could not continue and
3220-583: The Independents aligned themselves towards a unified Green Party. Brown was elected to the Australian Senate for Tasmania in 1996, and was an outspoken voice in opposition to the conservative government of John Howard , and in support of green and human rights issues, including international issues such as Tibet , East Timor and West Papua . He also introduced bills for constitutional reform, forest protection, to block radioactive waste dumping, to ban mandatory sentencing of Aboriginal children, to prohibit
3312-483: The Marriage Act in 2004, stating that "Mr Howard should relax and accept gay marriages as part of the future's social fabric". In December 2004, forestry and export woodchip company Gunns Limited attempted to sue Brown and others for $ 6.3 million, in an action which media reports say related to "ongoing damaging campaigns and activities" against the company. The original Statement of Claim issued by Gunns
3404-490: The Senate and House of Representatives reflects the desire of the Constitution's authors to prevent the more populous states totally dominating the legislative process. In practice, however, most legislation (except for private member's bills ) in the Australian Parliament is initiated by the government, which has control over the lower house. It is then passed to the Senate, which has the opportunity to amend
3496-550: The Senate are: Other parties that have achieved Senate representation in the past include the Australian Conservatives (2017-2019), Derryn Hinch's Justice Party (2016-2019), Family First Party (2005-2011,2014-2016), Australian Democrats (1977-2008), Palmer United Party , Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (2014-2016), Nuclear Disarmament Party , Liberal Movement , Liberal Democratic Party (2014-2019) and Democratic Labour Party (1955-1974). Due to
3588-435: The Senate incorporates more political diversity than the lower house ( House of Representatives ), which has historically been a two party body. The elected membership of the Senate more closely reflects the first voting preference of the electorate as a whole than does the composition of the House of Representatives, despite the large discrepancies from state to state in the ratio of voters to senators. This often means that
3680-524: The Senate's role as a house of review has increased with the expansion of its committee system . Senators from states ordinarily serve six-year terms, with half of the Senate up for re-election at each federal election along with the entirety of the House of Representatives. However, there is no constitutional requirement that Senate and House elections occur at the same time; the last Senate-only and House-only elections occurred in 1970 and 1972 respectively . The terms of senators from territories expire at
3772-429: The Senate, a joint sitting after a double dissolution is more likely than not to lead to a victory for the House over the Senate. When the Senate had an odd number of senators retiring at an election (3 or 5), 51% of the vote would lead to a clear majority of 3 out of 5 per state. With an even number of senators retiring at an election, it takes 57% of the vote to win 4 out of 6 seats, which may be insurmountable. This gives
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3864-495: The Senate. Brown's resignation took place on 15 June 2012 at 3:30 pm, when he handed his resignation to the senate president, John Hogg . Peter Whish-Wilson was sworn into the Senate on 21 June. Brown was the founder, in 1990, of the Australian Bush Heritage Fund, now Bush Heritage Australia , a non-profit environmental organisation dedicated to purchasing and preserving Australian bushland . He
3956-424: The Senate. The constitution grants the Senate nearly equivalent powers to the House of Representatives, with the exception that the Senate may not originate or amend money bills , but only reject or defer them. According to convention, the Senate plays no role in the formation of the executive government and the prime minister is drawn from the majority party or coalition in the House of Representatives. However,
4048-536: The Vietnam War as fit to be conscripted. He then worked as a resident at Darwin and Alice Springs hospitals. At the latter post, he met John Hawkins, a surgeon who had kayaked rivers in Tasmania. Brown travelled to London in 1970 and worked at Hounslow Cottage Hospital and St Mary Abbots Hospital in South Kensington . He was the resident doctor on duty at St Mary Abbots Hospital when Jimi Hendrix
4140-611: The Westminster system. This has led to the description of a " Washminster system " to describe the Australian political structure. Although the prime minister and treasurer , by convention (though not legal requirement), are members of the House of Representatives (after John Gorton was appointed prime minister in 1968, he resigned from the Senate and was elected to the House), other ministers may come from either house, and
4232-525: The above example. Names of parties can be shown only if the parties are registered, which requires, among other things, a minimum of 1,500 members. The order of parties on the ballot papers and the order of ungrouped candidates are determined by a random ballot conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission . Candidates, parties and groups pay a deposit of $ 2,000 per candidate, which is forfeited if they fail to achieve 4% of
4324-623: The arrival at Hobart of the nuclear-powered warship USS Enterprise . In 1978 Brown was appointed director of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society . In the late 1970s he emerged as a leader of the campaign to prevent construction of the Franklin Dam , which would have flooded the Franklin River valley as part of a hydroelectricity project. Brown was among the 1500 people arrested while protesting during
4416-517: The bill, pass or reject it. In the majority of cases, voting takes place along party lines , although there are occasional conscience votes . The Senate maintains a number of committees , which engage in a wide variety of inquiries. The results have no direct legislative power, but are valuable forums that raise many points of view that would otherwise not receive government or public notice. The system for electing senators has changed several times since Federation . The original arrangement involved
4508-561: The campaign. He subsequently spent 19 days in Hobart's Risdon Prison . On the day of his release in 1983, he became a member of Tasmania's parliament for the House of Assembly seat of Denison after the Democrats MP Norm Sanders resigned to successfully stand for the Australian Senate ; Brown was elected to replace him on a countback. The Franklin campaign was a success after Federal government intervention protected
4600-466: The chamber, as well as helping the rise of Australian minor parties. The 1984 election saw the introduction of group ticket voting , in order to reduce a high rate of informal voting that arose from the requirement that each candidate be given a preference, and to allow small parties and independent candidates a reasonable chance of winning a seat. This allowed voters to select a single party to distribute their preferences on their behalf (voting "above
4692-400: The composition of the Senate is different from that of the House of Representatives, contributing to the Senate's function as a house of review . With proportional representation, and the small majorities in the Senate compared to the generally larger majorities in the House of Representatives, and the requirement that the number of members of the House be "nearly as practicable" twice that of
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#17327907028684784-414: The day that they are elected. Their terms expire the day prior to the following general election day. While there is no constitutional requirement for the election of senators to take place at the same time as those for members of the House of Representatives, the government usually synchronises the dates of elections for the Senate and House of Representatives. However, because their terms do not coincide,
4876-438: The dissolution of the House of Representatives, typically at three-year intervals. Section 57 of the constitution provides for a double dissolution as a mechanism to break deadlocks between the House and Senate, whereby the entire Senate is dissolved and all seats made vacant. Casual vacancies are filled by the relevant state or territory parliament, or by the corresponding state or territory government on an interim basis if
4968-411: The election will be disrupted, and there can be half-Senate elections without a concurrent House election. The last time this occurred was on 21 November 1970 . The number of votes that a candidate must receive to be elected to the senate is referred to as a "quota". The quota is worked out by dividing the number of formal votes by one more than the number of vacancies to be filled and then adding one to
5060-449: The entire Senate (and the House of Representatives) is dissolved, in what is known as a double dissolution . Following a double dissolution, half the senators representing states serve terms ending on the third 30 June following the election (two to three years) and the rest serve a five to six-year term. Section 13 of the Constitution requires the Senate to allocate long and short terms amongst its members. The term of senators representing
5152-621: The flooding. In 2011, Brown supported the 2011 military intervention in Libya . On 24 March 2012, at the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Tasmanian Greens, Brown warned about degradation of the Earth and the impact that could have on future generations. He postulated that other civilisations in the universe are: not communicating with Earth. They have extincted themselves. They have come and gone. And now it's our turn. As
5244-542: The free event that also featured the band Ball Park Music. A march to protest the proposed gas refinery construction at James Price Point accompanied the free concert and campaign supporters were photographed with banners and placards. On 8 January 2013, it was announced that Brown would be taking over as director of the Australian chapter of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society , a non-profit, marine conservation organisation. He stepped down in April 2014. In January 2016, Brown
5336-409: The government appoints a Senate leader and senators hold senior roles in the government as ministers of state and members of cabinet . Senators from the opposition likewise serve in the shadow ministry . The Senate elects one of its members to serve as president , who exercises only an ordinary vote and has no casting vote . Since the late 20th century, it has been rare for governments to hold
5428-410: The incoming Parliament will for some time comprise the new House of Representatives and the old Senate, except for the senators representing the territories, until the new senators start their term on the next 1 July. Following a double dissolution, all 76 senators face re-election. If there is an early House election outside the 12-month period in which Senate elections can occur, the synchronisation of
5520-531: The interjections with good humour but the Speaker of the House , Neil Andrew formally "named" Brown and Nettle. This meant that they were both suspended from the Parliament for 24 hours which prevented them from being present during a similar address from Chinese President Hu Jintao the next day. After the speech, however, Brown shook Bush's hand. Brown opposed the Howard Government's amendments to
5612-447: The line and below the line voting were consistent with the constitution. The Australian Senate voting paper under the single transferable vote proportional representation system resembles the following example (shown in two parts), which shows the candidates for Victorian senate representation in the 2016 federal election . To vote correctly, electors must either: Because each state elects six senators at each half-Senate election,
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#17327907028685704-428: The line"), but voters were still able to vote directly for individual candidates and distribute their own preferences if they wished (voting "below the line") by numbering every box. Following 1981, the government has only had a majority in the Senate from 2005–2007; otherwise, negotiations with other parties and independents have generally been necessary to pass legislation. Group tickets were abolished in advance of
5796-504: The line, and are not required to fill all of the boxes. Both above and below the line voting now use optional preferential voting . For above the line, voters are instructed to number at least their first six preferences; however, a "savings provision" is in place to ensure that ballots will still be counted if less than six are given. For below the line, voters are required to number at least their first 12 preferences. Voters are free to continue numbering as many preferences as they like beyond
5888-402: The minimum number specified. Another savings provision allows ballot papers with at least 6 below the line preferences to be formal. The voting changes make it more difficult for new small parties and independent candidates to be elected to the Senate, but also allow a voter to voluntarily exhaust preferences — that is, to ensure their vote cannot flow to specific candidates or parties — if none of
5980-461: The need to obtain votes statewide, independent candidates have difficulty getting elected. The exceptions in recent times have been elected in less populous States — the former Tasmanian Senator Brian Harradine and the former South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon . David Pocock was also elected to represent the ACT at the 2022 election. It is less uncommon for a senator initially elected representing
6072-444: The parliament is not in session. A constitutional amendment passed in 1977 provides that casual vacancies must be filled by a member of the same political party as the previous senator. The Constitution of Australia established the Senate as the second chamber of the national parliament of the newly federated Australia . In contrast to countries employing a pure Westminster system the Senate plays an active role in legislation and
6164-547: The primary vote. Candidates, parties and groups earn a public subsidy if they gain at least 4% of the primary vote. At the 2019 federal election, funding was $ 2.756 per formal first preference vote. Under sections 7 and 8 of the Australian Constitution: These conditions have periodically been the source of debate, and within these conditions, the composition and rules of the Senate have varied significantly since federation. Under Section 24 of
6256-555: The proposed Carmichael coal mine . In July 2019 Brown came out strongly opposing a large wind farm to be set up in Northern Tasmania, raising concern for bird species. In July 2012, Brown was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Coffs Harbour High School , where he had spent a significant part of his secondary school years. Brown has received the following awards: In a newspaper interview in 1976, Brown announced that he had
6348-410: The quota for election is only one-seventh or 14.3% (one third or 33.3% for territories, where only two senators are elected). Once a candidate has been elected with votes reaching the quota amount, any votes they receive in addition to this may be distributed to other candidates as preferences, if there are still open seats to fill. With an odd number of seats in a half-Senate election (3 or 5), 50.1% of
6440-551: The recommendation of the Governor-General, with the last independent Senate election writ being issued by the Governor of Queensland during the Gair Affair in 1974. Slightly more than half of the Senate is contested at each general election (half of the 72 state senators, and all four of the territory senators), along with the entire House of Representatives. Except in the case of a double dissolution , senators for
6532-428: The result. The 2019 senate election was a half senate election, so 6 senate vacancies were contested in each state. At this election, the quotas in each state were: Each state elects the same number of senators, meaning there is equal representation for each of the Australian states, regardless of population, so the Senate, like many upper Houses, does not adhere to the principle of one vote one value . Tasmania , with
6624-446: The seats of 40 of the 76 senators (half of the 72 senators from the six states and all four of the senators from the territories) are contested, along with the entire House of Representatives; such an election is sometimes known as a half-Senate election. The seats of senators representing states elected at a half-Senate election are not contested at the next election, provided it is a half-Senate election. However, under some circumstances,
6716-423: The states are elected for fixed terms of six years, commencing on 1 July following the election, and ceasing on 30 June six years later. The term of the four senators from the territories is not fixed, but is defined by the dates of the general elections for the House of Representatives, the period between which can vary greatly, to a maximum of three years and three months. Territory senators commence their terms on
6808-432: The time of Brennan's release. Australian Senate Labor (25) Opposition (30) Coalition Liberal (24) National (6) Crossbench (21) Greens (11) One Nation (2) Australia's Voice ( 1 ) Lambie Network ( 1 ) United Australia ( 1 ) [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Australian Senate
6900-525: The total to 60. In 1975, the two territories, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory , were given an entitlement to elect two senators each for the first time, bringing the number to 64. The senators from the Northern Territory also represent constituents from Australia's Indian Ocean Territories ( Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands ), while the senators from
6992-497: The two Houses have almost equal legislative power. As with most upper chambers in bicameral parliaments , the Senate cannot introduce or amend appropriation bills (bills that authorise government expenditure of public revenue) or bills that impose taxation, that role being reserved for the lower house; it can only approve, reject or defer them (as famously occurred in the lead up to the Dismissal ). That degree of equality between
7084-537: The use of cluster munitions and for greenhouse abatement. At the 2001 federal election Brown was re-elected to the Senate with a greatly increased vote, and was outspoken on Prime Minister John Howard's refusal to allow 438 asylum seekers (mostly from Afghanistan ) to land on Christmas Island after they had been rescued from their sinking boat in the Indian Ocean by the MV Tampa , a Norwegian freighter. Brown
7176-468: The vote wins a majority (2/3) or (3/5). With an even number of seats in a half-Senate election (6), 57.1% of the vote is needed to win a majority of seats (4/6). The ungrouped candidates in the far right column do not have a box above the line. Therefore, they can only get a primary (number 1) vote from electors who vote below the line. For this reason, some independents register as a group, either with other independents or by themselves, such as group B in
7268-481: The voter's candidate preferences are elected. The changes were subject to a challenge in front of High Court of Australia by sitting South Australian Senator Bob Day of the Family First Party . The senator argued that the changes meant the senators would not be "directly chosen by the people" as required by the constitution. The High Court rejected Day's challenge unanimously, deciding that both above
7360-414: The word being based on actual evidence of such. In early 2007, Brown attracted scorn from sections of the media and the major political parties for his proposal to commit to a plan within three years, that would eventually see the banning of coal exports. Brown described coal exports as the "energy industry's heroin habit" and stated that the export of alternative technologies should be the priority. Brown
7452-556: The wording of the RFA was changed. Brown was ordered to pay $ 240,000 to Forestry Tasmania, which he said he could not afford to pay. Failure to pay would have resulted in bankruptcy proceedings which would have cost Brown his Senate seat. Brown had earlier rejected a settlement offer from Forestry Tasmania that would have required him to have only paid $ 200,000 of the costs he had incurred. On 9 June 2009, Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith promised to help bail him out if necessary, an offer that
7544-500: Was "obvious" what the outcome would be if Australia was to not set carbon emissions goals. In 2005, Brown brought a legal case against Forestry Tasmania in the Federal Court, in an attempt to protect Tasmania's Wielangta forest from clearfell logging. The 1997 Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) exempted logging operations from endangered species laws but required the protection of endangered species. Bob Brown brought
7636-640: Was a Tasmanian environmental group that started in 1976 in response to a proposal by the state's Hydro Electric Commission to construct a dam on the Gordon River , downstream from the Franklin River , that led to the Franklin Dam controversy . The group evolved from membership of the South West Tasmania Action Committee and members of the United Tasmania Group . It was active in public protest about
7728-522: Was arrested after refusing to leave the Lapoinya Forest in Tasmania, where preparations for logging were under way. Along with another protester, who had been arrested a few days earlier, he was charged with an offence under Tasmania's Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Act 2014. Although the charges were dropped, the two went to the High Court to argue that the provisions under which they had been charged were unconstitutional. In October 2017
7820-403: Was brought in. At the time of his retirement, many media outlets erroneously reported that he had pronounced Hendrix dead. Brown later clarified that, while he had been on duty when Hendrix was brought in, "he had been dead for some hours", and Hendrix was officially pronounced dead by a different doctor—who was, coincidentally, also an Australian. Brown moved to Tasmania in 1972 and worked as
7912-483: Was equally critical of Opposition Leader Kim Beazley 's acquiescence to John Howard's stance on the Tampa incident . Brown was particularly vocal in his opposition to Australian participation in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and became recognised as a leading voice for the anti-war/peace movement. When President Bush visited Canberra on 23 October 2003, Brown and fellow senator Kerry Nettle interjected during his address to
8004-572: Was kidnapped in Somalia and held hostage for 462 days, revealed Brown had contributed $ 100,000 of his own money to help pay the ransom for his release. It was also revealed that Brown contacted Australian businessman Dick Smith asking that he also contribute funds towards the release of Brennan. Brennan, who was released in November 2009, also stated in this interview that Brown had to borrow this money, an assertion also made in various media outlets at
8096-538: Was not needed after pledges of support from over 1,000 donors covered Brown's legal bill within a few days of his announcement. In 2011, after the 2010–11 Queensland floods Brown drew criticism for suggesting that half the Mineral Resource Rent Tax be allocated to future natural catastrophes. He made comments to the effect that climate change, specifically the impact on climate from the mining sector should be held at least partially responsible for
8188-651: Was president of the organisation until 1996. On 20 March 2011 Brown donated a 14-hectare (35-acre) property and house he had owned for 38 years to Bush Heritage Australia. The property is located 47 kilometres (29 miles) south-west of Launceston, Tasmania , in the Liffey Valley . According to Australian Geographic, it is a site of historic and symbolic significance. Brown set up the Bob Brown Foundation with his longtime partner Paul Thomas to promote environmental awareness. The foundation established
8280-656: Was re-elected in the 2007 federal election . He announced his intention to stand again at the Greens National Conference in November 2005. Following his re-election and that of the new Labor Government , Brown called on the new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd , to set fixed carbon targets immediately, and to announce their levels at the upcoming United Nations Bali Climate Change Conference in December 2007, continuing his climate campaigning, and saying that it
8372-439: Was rejected. The size of the Senate has changed over the years. The Constitution originally provided for six senators for each state, resulting in a total of 36 senators. The Constitution permits the Parliament to increase the number of senators, provided that equal numbers of senators from each original state are maintained; accordingly, in 1948, Senate representation was increased from 6 to 10 senators for each state, increasing
8464-465: Was struck out by the Supreme Court and costs were awarded against Gunns for the initial proceedings. Gunns ultimately failed with the company finally dropping all claims against Brown on 13 December 2006 while continuing its case against others including The Wilderness Society. Brown was formally elected as the first Federal Parliamentary Leader of The Greens on 28 November 2005, following almost
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