07:22

The LNP motion for an inquiry into the effect of farming and water quality on the Great Barrier Reef – inspired by Peter Ridd but neutral on its face – has been voted up by the Senate 33 votes to 30, with Centre Alliance’s Rex Patrick and One Nation voting with the Coalition.



Labor attempted to amend the motion at the last minute to inquire into the Coalition’s $444m reef grant, but that failed to throw a spanner in the works.



Patrick told Guardian Australia that Centre Alliance “generally votes for all inquiries unless they’re politically charged” and “the outcome of the inquiry will fall according to the evidence”.

