And just like that, the federal government's controversial bid to hold a national vote on whether to legalise same-sex marriage was defeated.
Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and independent Derryn Hinch opposed it.
Some say the move has potentially delayed same-sex unions for years.
Federal Attorney General Senator George Brandis made a last-ditch plea to the Senate just minutes before the Bill was put to a vote.
"The choice lies in the hands of those who have it in their power to give Australia marriage equality within less than three months or to delay it for years to come. Because, I say it again, a vote against this bill is a vote against marriage quality."
In opposing the vote, the opposition Labor Party said it would have resulted in harmful debate against the gay and lesbian community and instead sought a direct vote in Parliament.
Several gay senators, including Labor's Penny Wong and Louise Pratt, made impassioned pleas against the plebiscite.
Senator Wong told the Senate a plebiscite is not the right path to marriage equality.
"We have listend to *LGBTIQ Australians and we have listened to the broader Australian community, which is why Labor will oppose this bill. But that is not the end of the matter and that can not be the end of the matter. Despite the febrile rhetoric of the Attorney General, there is a clear way forward. A clear way for the parliament to do what Australians want it to do to resolve this issue once and for all by voting on a bill for marriage equality. All we need for that to happen is a free vote by members of the Liberal party."
But the matter is far from put to rest.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says she's sure there will be many relieved Australians following the plebiscite's defeat.
She says this is not where the fight ends for marriage equality.
"We now need Malcolm Turnbull to do what old Malcolm would have done and allow a free vote in the parliament."
Greens senator Janet Rice, whose transgender wife Penny was Peter when they married 30 years ago, describes the defeat as a win for common sense, equality and justice.
"I'm very pleased the plebiscite has now been confined to the dustbin of history. So we can now move on from a plebiscite because it was so unnecessary."
She says the first step to same-sex marriage has been achieved.
"One was to break up the plebiscite, which we did last night. Step two is now to get engaged with the House of Representatives and then the pressure will be on Malcolm Turnbull."
Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce says it's time to move on to other issues after the government's election mandate was rejected.
"People in the Senate know full well the promise that was made to the Australian people and the alternate promise that was made by Mr Shorten. The coalition won and, if nothing else, you should respect the will of the Australian people."
There have only been three plebiscites in Australia's history: two relating to conscription during World War One, and one to choose a national song in 1977.
