The chances of a Senate committee inquiry into Minister Tehan’s education bill have moved from possible to probable

A Greens motion to send the bill to committee when it arrives in the chamber failed yesterday afternoon – with the Senate dividing evenly. Crossbench senators Lambie (Tas) Patrick (SA) and Griff (SA) joined the Greens.

If the vote was repeated on the bill itself it would also fail. This does not mean that this is what will happen but it does demonstrate that Senator Lambie and her two South Australian colleagues want the Senate to look at the legislation.

On the existing numbers the government needs one of the three to pass the bill which may well mean an inquiry is on.