The 30th anniversary of Australia’s Parliament House

Dr Joy McCann, Anna Hough
Politics and Public Administration Section

with Dr Dianne Heriot, Parliamentary Librarian



Appendix 5: Key Commonwealth Acts passed since 1988

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Bill 1989, Bills Digest, no. 41, 18 May 1989.

To establish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

Administrative law

Legislative Instruments Act 2003

M Coombs, Legislative Instruments Bill 2003, Bills Digest, no. 26, 2003-04, 9 September 2003

To establish a regime to reform and manage procedures for the making, scrutiny and publication of Commonwealth legislative instruments

Amending Acts 1901‑1969 Repeal Act 2014

J Murphy, Amending Acts 1901‑1969 Repeal Bill 2014, Bills digest, no. 59, 2013‑14, 8 April 2014.

To repeal over 1,000 amending and repeal Acts identified by the Government as being redundant.

Amending Acts 1970 to 1979 Repeal Act 2014

K Magarey, Amending Acts 1970 to 1979 Repeal Bill 2014, Bills digest, no. 57, 2014‑15, 27 November 2014.

To repeal 656 amending and repeal Acts identified as redundant.

Amending Acts 1980 to 1989 Repeal Act 2015

K Magarey, Amending Acts 1980 to 1989 Repeal Bill 2015, Bills digest, no 103, 2014–15, 12 May 2015.

To remove a significant number of ‘spent Acts’ – amending or repealing Acts which are no longer required as the legal changes they were designed to make have occurred. Schedule 1 repeals 870 obsolete or redundant amending or repeal Acts.

Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Act 2015

C Madden, Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Act 2015, Bills digest, no. 102, 2014–15, 12 May 2015.

Introduced to radically overhaul the governance arrangements that currently operate on NI and starts the transition of NI from a self-governing territory to a modern local government type authority.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity Act 2015

 

The Bill represents a major rewrite of the Quarantine Act 1908 and is based not just on the quarantine power, but also on a number of other Constitutional powers which provide the foundation for broader coverage to address changing patterns of overseas trade and Australia’s international obligations.

Business

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998

B Bailey, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Amendment Bill 2003, Bills Digest, no. 172, 2002-03 , 13 June 2003

The main purpose of the Bill is to change the leadership and governance of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority arising from the recommendations contained in the report of the HIH Royal Commission

Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001

M Tapley, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Bill 2001, Bills Digest , no. 144, 2000-01, 4 June 2001,

To remove constitutional doubts about the framework for corporate regulation by substantially re-enacting the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 1989 based on powers referred by the States.

Corporations Act 2001

M Tapley, Corporations Bill 2001, Bills Digest , no. 140, 2000-01, 1 June 2001.

Substantially re-enacts the existing Corporations Law of the ACT as a Commonwealth Act applying throughout Australia

National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009

P Tan, National Consumer Credit Protection Bill 2009, Bills Digest , no. 30, 2009-10, 15 September 2009.

To implement the new national consumer credit regulation framework, which will replace the current State based regulatory framework known as the Uniform Consumer Credit Code

Citizenship

Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Act 2015

M Harrison-Smith and C Barker, Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015, Bills digest, 15, 2015–16, 2 September 2015.

The Bill will amend the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to provide for ‘automatic’ cessation of the Australian citizenship (including that obtained at birth) of a dual national where that person:

– renounces their Australian citizenship by engaging in certain conduct relating to terrorism and ‘foreign incursions’

– fights for, or is in the service of, a ‘declared terrorist organisation’ outside Australia (expanding an existing provision concerning serving in the armed forces of a country at war with Australia) or

– is convicted of a specified offence.

Climate change

Climate Change Authority Act 2011

J Tomaras, Climate Change Authority Bill 2011, Bills Digest , no. 67, 2011-12, 28 October 2011.

Creates the statutory Australian Climate Change Authority (the Authority), which is intended to act as an independent body providing the Government with expert advice on key aspects of the carbon pricing mechanism and mitigation goals.

Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011

A Talberg, J Gardiner-Garden, J Tomaras, Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011, Bills Digest , no. 5, 2011-12, 1 July 2011.

One of a package of three related Bills which establishes a voluntary carbon offset scheme with the purpose of creating incentives for carbon abatement or avoidance projects in land-use sectors.

Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Act 2014

K Swoboda, A St John, J Tomaras, Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Bill 2014, Bills digest, no. 23, 2014‑15, 3 September 2014.

Amends the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 to implement the main part of the Coalition Government’s ‘direct action’ emissions reduction policy—the establishment of arrangements to support the purchase of domestic emissions abatement through the ‘emissions reduction fund’.

Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Act 2014

 

Part of a package of 8 bills to remove the carbon pricing mechanism.

Communications and media

Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005

P O'Neill and P Prince, Australian Communications and Media Authority Bill 2004, Bills Digest , no. 78, 2004-05, 9 December 2004.

Established the ACMA for the regulation of broadcasting, radiocommunications and telecommunications (part of a package of 10 Bills)

Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Regulates commercial radio and television (content, ownership, etc.)

Do Not Call Register Act 2006

MA Neilsen, Do Not Call Register Bill 2006, Bills Digest , no. 160, 2005-06, 19 June 2006.

Radiocommunications Act 1992

Spam Act 2003

Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991

Regulates SBS radio and television

Telecommunications Act 1997

K Jackson and L Jones, Telecommunications Bill 1996, Bills Digest , no. 87, 1996-97, 5 December 1996.

Regulates the telecommunications industry

Telstra Corporation Act 1991

Provides for the ownership and operation of Telstra

Telecommunications Act 1989

Telecommunications Bill 1989, Bills Digest, no. 35, 5 May 1989.

To provide for greater competition in the provision of value added services and private network services. The Bill will also reserve certain telecommunication services for Telecom, OTC and AUSSAT, and establish the Australian Telecommunications Authority as a statutory corporation responsible for the regulation of the telecommunications industry.

Computers

Circuit Layouts Act 1989

Circuit Layouts Bill 1988, Bills Digest, no. 171, 1 February 1989.

To provide protection for original circuit layouts of integrated circuits.

Telecommunications Act 1989

Telecommunications Bill 1989, Bills Digest, no. 35, 5 May 1989.

To provide for greater competition in the provision of value added services and private network services. The Bill will also reserve certain telecommunication services for Telecom, OTC and AUSSAT, and establish the Australian Telecommunications Authority as a statutory corporation responsible for the regulation of the telecommunications industry.

Courts

Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Act 2012

M Biddington, Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Bill 2012, Bills Digest , no. 171, 2011-12, 26 June 2012.

The purpose of this Bill is to provide a mechanism to assist the Parliament in its consideration of removal from office of a judge or federal magistrate under the Constitution.

Tribunals Amalgamation Act 2015

M Coombs, C Petrie and D Spooner, Tribunals Amalgamation Bill 2015, Bills digest, no. 83, 2014–15, 19 March 2015.

To amend a number of Acts to amalgamate the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and the Migration Review Tribunal—Refugee Review Tribunal with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Criminal law

Australian Crime Commission Act 2002

Aviation Transport Security Act 2004

Crimes at Sea Act 2000

Criminal Code Act 1995

Intelligence Services Act 2001

Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006

Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003

Model Criminal Code 1st edition, 28 May 2009

National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Act 2010

E Karlsen, Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill 2010, Bills Digest , no. 11, 2009-10, 11 March 2010.

Among other things, this Bill proposes to harmonise existing offences between Acts and create new people smuggling offences.

National Security Legislation Amendment Act 2010

M Biddington and M Harrison-Smith, National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010, Bills Digest , no. 21, 2010-11, 27 October 2010.

Reforms implementing the Government's response to several independent and parliamentary committee reviews of Australian national security and counter‐terrorism legislation.

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Act 2013

M Biddington and C Barker, Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-Like Conditions and People Trafficking) Bill 2012, Bills Digest , no. 14, 2012-13, 24 August 2012.

Will establish new offences of forced labour, forced marriage, organ trafficking and harbouring a victim. The Bill will also modify the scope and application of existing offences of slavery, deceptive recruiting, sexual servitude and trafficking in persons

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) Act 2015

J Mills, Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) Bill 2015, Bills digest, 48, 2015–16, 12 November 2015.

To amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 to extend the existing retrospective application of the offences of murder and manslaughter of Australians overseas to apply to offences occurring prior to 1 October 2002.

Criminal Code Amendment (War Crimes) Act 2016

C Raymond and J Tomaras, Criminal Code Amendment (War Crimes) Bill 2016, Bills Digest, 43, 2016–17, 23 November 2016.

Proposes to amend the war crimes offences in the Criminal Code Act 1995 to address some anomalies in the treatment of acts done in the course of a ‘non-international armed conflict’ with the requirements of international humanitarian law (IHL). These anomalies are said to limit the capability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to undertake international security operations, and may expose members of the ADF to domestic criminal liability despite acting in compliance with the requirements of IHL.

Criminal Code Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Act 2016

M Biddington, Criminal Code Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2016, Bills Digest, 48, 2016–17, 29 November 2016.

Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to establish a scheme for the continuing detention of high risk terrorist offenders who are considered by a judge in civil proceedings to present an unacceptable risk to the community at the conclusion of their custodial sentence.

Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Minors Online) Act 2017

M Biddington, Criminal Code Amendment (Protecting Minors Online) Bill 2017, Bills Digest

The purpose of the Act is to introduce an offence to criminalise acts done using a carriage service to prepare or plan to cause harm to, procure, or engage in sexual activity with, a person under the age of 16. This expressly includes a person misrepresenting their age online as part of a plan to cause harm to another person under 16 years of age.

Defence

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

Education and training

Education and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2017

J Griffiths, C Ey, P Pyburne, Education and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2017, Bills Digest.

To amend the Ombudsman Act 1976 to establish the office of the VET Student Loans Ombudsman. In addition, the Bill amends the Australian Research Council Act 2001 to update indexation against appropriation funding caps for existing legislated amounts and includes an additional forward estimate amount.

Energy

Clean Energy Act 2011

K Swoboda, J Tomaras and Alan Payne, Clean Energy Bill 2011, Bills Digest , no. 68, 2011-12, 28 October 2011.

Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act 2012

Minerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2012

J Tomaras, Minerals Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011, Bills Digest , no. 124, 2011-12, 19 March 2012.

Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Act 2014

 

An Act to remove the minerals resource rent tax, or mining tax, among other things.

Employment

Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005

Fair Work Act 2009

Public Service Act 1999

Parliamentary Service Act 1999

Workplace Relations Amendment (Workchoices) Act 2005

Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Act 2016

J Murphy, Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014, Bills Digest, 40, 2016–17, 21 November 2016.

The Bill is framed partly as a response to widely publicised misconduct by officers of the Health Services Union and other evidence of poor governance of some trade unions uncovered by the Royal Commission into trade union governance and corruption. The stated aim of the Bill is to improve the standard of governance of registered organisations and deter wrongdoing by amending the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009.

Environmental law

Ozone Protection Act 1989

Ozone Protection Bill 1988, Bills Digest, no. 135, 28 November 1988.

To establish a system of controls to reduce the manufacture, import, export, distribution and use of ozone - depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.

Family law

Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Act 2008

MA Neilsen, Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill 2008, Bills Digest , no. 9, 2008-09, 25 August 2008.

To extend federal jurisdiction under the Family Law Act 1975 to financial matters arising out of the breakdown of de facto relationships, including both opposite sex and same sex relationships.

Australian Citizenship Amendment (Intercountry Adoption) Act 2014

M Neilsen, Australian Citizenship Amendment (Intercountry Adoption) Bill 2014, Bills digest, no. 8, 2014‑15, 14 July 2014.

To create an entitlement to citizenship for children adopted under bilateral arrangements equivalent to the entitlement currently provided for children adopted under Hague Convention arrangements.

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Act 2015

G Butler, Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014, Bills digest, no 78, 2014–15, 2 March 2015.

The Bill creates a new statutory office, the Children’s e-Safety Commissioner, and provides for the Commissioner to administer a complaints scheme regarding harmful cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child.

Enhancing Online Safety for Children Amendment Act 2017

M Biddington, Enhancing Online Safety for Children Amendment Bill 2017, Bills Digest.

To amend the Enhancing Online Safety for Children Act 2015 (the Act) to broaden the functions of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner to include online safety for all Australians. As part of the amendments, the name of the Act will be amended, to be known as the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015.

Health

Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002

Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002

To prohibit certain practices associated with reproductive technologies, including the cloning of a human being.

Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011

M Thomas, Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011, Bills Digest, no. 35, 2011-12, 24 August 2011.

To prohibit the use of all tobacco industry logos, brand imagery, colours and promotional text on the retail packaging of tobacco products.

Therapeutic Goods Act 1989

Therapeutic Goods Bill 1989, Bills Digest, no. 123, 24 October 1989.

To establish standards and provide an assessment and licensing system to regulate the import, export, supply and manufacturing of certain therapeutic goods.

Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015

A Grove, Australian Immunisation Register Bill 2015, Bills digest, no. 25, 2015–16, 1 October 2015.

To create a consolidated legislative framework to govern the operation of Australian immunisation registers and

to expand the age range covered by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register from children under seven to ‘young individuals’ under 20 years of age.

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Increasing Consumer Choice) Act 2016

Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Increasing Consumer Choice) Bill 2016, Bills Digest, 94, 2015–16, 1 March 2016.

Will allocate home care packages (HCPs) directly to consumers, rather than to approved providers, create a national system for prioritising consumer access to HCPs and reduce regulation of the approval process for all aged care providers.

Migration

Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Act 2014

E Karlsen, J Phillips, H Spinks, Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014, Bills digest, no. 40, 2014‑15, 23 October 2014.

The measures broaden the maritime enforcement powers used to intercept and return vessels carrying asylum seekers.

Migration Amendment (Regional Processing Arrangements) Act 2015

 

To provide statutory authority which applies where the Commonwealth has entered into an arrangement with another country with respect to the regional processing functions of that country.

Human rights

Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2017

 

Amends (among other things) the: Racial Discrimination Act 1975 to: amend section 18C, which prohibits offensive behaviour based on racial hatred, to replace the words ‘offend’, ‘insult’ and ‘humiliate’ with ‘harass’ (resulting in the formulation ‘harass or intimidate’); and provide that an assessment of whether an act is reasonably likely to harass or intimidate a person or group of persons is made against the standard of a reasonable member of the Australian community.

Intellectual property

Patents Act 1990

Patents Bill 1990, Bills Digest, no. 67, 5 July 1989.

To repeal the Patents Act 1952 and replace it as the principle piece of legislation dealing with patents in Australia.

Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Act 2015

 

To introduce a key reform to reduce online copyright infringement.

Marriage

Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017

Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017, Bills Digest

Amends the: Marriage Act 1961 to: redefine marriage as ‘a union of two people’; introduce non-gendered language so that the requirements of the Act apply equally to all marriages; enable same-sex marriages that have been, or will be, solemnised under the law of a foreign country to be recognised in Australia; amend the definition of ‘authorised celebrant’ to include new categories of religious marriage celebrants and certain Australian Defence Force officers; enable ministers of religion, religious marriage celebrants, chaplains and bodies established for religious purposes to refuse to solemnise or provide facilities, goods and services for marriages on religious grounds; and make amendments contingent on the commencement of the proposed Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2017; and Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to provide that a refusal by a minister of religion, religious marriage celebrant or chaplain to solemnise marriage in prescribed circumstances does not constitute unlawful discrimination.

Native Title

Native Title Act 1993

A Twomey, Native Title Bill 1993, Bills Digest , no. 63, 1993, 23 November 1993.

To recognise and protect native title

Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007 . Repealed by Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2012

K Magarey and others, Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007, Bills Digest , no. 28, 2007-08, 13 August 2007.

Now repealed. Package of Bills issued in response to Little Children are Sacred": The Report of the Northern Territory Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse .

Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Act 2017

C Raymond, Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Bill 2017, Bills Digest.

The Act proposes to: a. confirm the legal status and enforceability of agreements which have been registered by the Native Title Registrar on the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements without the signature of all members of a registered native title claimant; b. enable registration of agreements which have been made but have not yet been registered on the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements;  and c. ensure that in the future, area ILUAs can be registered without requiring every member of the RNTC to be a party to the agreement.

Nuclear energy

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998

S Downing and J Prest, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Bill 1998, Bills Digest , no. 211, 1997-98, 14 May 1998 (for previously lapsed Bill).

Introduces regulatory controls for all Commonwealth radiation and nuclear safety activities.

Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Act 1998

S Downing, Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Bill 1998, Bills Digest , no. 190, 1997‑98, 7 May 1998.

The Bill prohibits the causing of any nuclear explosion at any place under Australian control.

Nuclear Safeguards (Producers of Uranium Ore Concentrates) Charge Act 1993 :

Imposes a tax on uranium miners to fund the operations of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office.

Parliament/public service

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

D Weight and N Horne, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Bill 2013, Bills Digest, no. 162, 2012-13, 27 June 2013.

About the governance, performance and accountability of, and the use and management of public resources by, the Commonwealth, Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth companies.

Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Act 2017

C Madden, Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Bill 2017, Bills Digest

Amends the: Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 to enable people, vehicles and goods to undergo aviation security screening within an airside area or zone at a security controlled airport; and Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 and Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003 to enable the secretary to delegate his or her powers to lower level Australian Public Service employees.

Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority Act 2017

 

Introduced with the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (Consequential Amendments) Act 2017, the Act: establishes the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority as an independent statutory authority with responsibilities in relation to expenses and allowances of parliamentarians and their staff; provides for the Authority’s functions, powers, liabilities, membership, and appointment of a chief executive officer and staff; and provides for an independent review of the Authority.

Privacy

Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Act 2016

MA Neilsen, Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Bill 2016, Bills Digest, 52, 2016–17, 8 December 2016.

Implements recommendations of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and the Australian Law Reform Commission by amending the Privacy Act 1988 to require agencies, organisations and certain other entities to provide notice to the Australian Information Commissioner and affected individuals of an eligible data breach.

Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Act 2017

MA Neilsen, Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Bill 2016, Bills Digest

Implements recommendations of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s Advisory report on the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014 and the Australian Law Reform Commission’s report For Your Information: Australian Privacy Law and Practice by amending the Privacy Act 1988 to require agencies, organisations and certain other entities to provide notice to the Australian Information Commissioner and affected individuals of an eligible data breach.

Property

Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Act 2015

 

Establishes a register, operated by the Australian Taxation Office, of foreign ownership of agricultural land.

Sex discrimination

Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act 2013

Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013, Bills Digest, no. 155, 21 June 2013.

To provide new protections against discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status; provide protection against discrimination for same-sex de facto couples.

Tax

Income Tax Assessment Act 1997

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999

B Bennett, A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Bill 1998, Bills Digest , no. 97, 1998-99, 28 January 1999.

To introduce a 10% tax on goods and services.

Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Act 2016

K Sanyal, Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 1) Bill 2016, Bills Digest, 116, 2015–16, 4 May 2016.

 

Ensures that the goods and services tax (GST) is applied consistently to all supplies of digital products and other imported services to Australian consumers.

Transport/navigation

Inspector of Transport Security Act 2006

J Clarke, Inspector of Transport Security Bill 2006, Bills Digest, no. 49, 2006-07, 1 November 2006.

Inquire into major transport security incidents and patterns or series of incidents that point to a systemic failure or possible weaknesses or vulnerabilities in aviation and maritime transport and security regulated offshore facilities.

Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991

Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 1991, Bills Digest, 14 August 1991.

To implement up-dated rules regarding the responsibilities and liabilities of those who carry goods by sea and for ship owners

Navigation Act 2012

provides for the regulation of international ship and seafarer safety, employment conditions for Australian seafarers and shipboard aspects of protection of the marine environment.

Terrorism and National Security

Criminal Code Act 1995

Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism Act 2002

M Tapley, Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism Bill 2002, Bills Digest , no. 127, 2001-02, 1 May 2002.

Aimed at restricting the financial resources that are available to support the activities of terrorist organisations.

Border Security Legislation Amendment Act 2002

I Ireland, Border Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2002, Bills Digest , no. 123, 2001-02, 29 April 2002.

Part of a package of counter-terrorism legislation, some in relation to the Australian Customs Service.

National Security Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2014

M Biddington, C Barker, National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014, Bills digest, no. 19, 2014‑15, 28 August 2014.

The main purpose of the Bill is to implement recommendations made in Chapter 4 of the PJCIS’s Report of the Inquiry into Potential Reforms of Australia’s National Security Legislation.

Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Act 2014

C Barker, M Biddington, M Coombs, M Klapdor, Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014, Bills digest, no. 34, 2014‑15, 17 October 2014.

To make amendments to several existing Commonwealth Acts, to address the Government’s response to the increased threat of terrorism posed by Australians engaging in, and returning from, conflicts in foreign States.

Australian Border Force Act 2015

C Barker, Australian Border Force Bill 2015 [and] Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Australian Border Force) Bill 2015, Bills digest, no. 94, 2014–15, 7 May 2015.

To establish the Australian Border Force and ABF Commissioner within the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. The Commissioner will be responsible for enforcement of customs laws and border-related revenue collection.

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Act 2015

J Murphy and M Biddington, Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014, Bills digest, 89, 2014–15, 26 March 2015.

Creates new obligations on telecommunications and internet service providers to retain prescribed information or documents (metadata) for a period of two years for the purposes of access by national security authorities, criminal law-enforcement agencies and enforcement agencies. The Bill also requires service providers to encrypt the retained metadata (subject to certain exemptions).

Welfare

Aged Care Act 1997

L Jones, Aged Care Bill 1997, Bills Digest , no. 132, 1996-97, 26 March 1997

Relates to classification and accreditation and funding of nursing homes and hostels,

Human Services (Centrelink) Act 1997

Establishes the Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency (commonly known as Centrelink)

Child Support (Assessment Act) 1989

To ensure that children receive the proper level of child support from their parents

Social Security Act 1991

Age Discrimination Act 2004

K Magarey, Age Discrimination Bill 2003, Bills Digest , no. 29, 2003-04, 8 September 2003.

To prohibit age discrimination in certain specified areas and to provide exemptions from the prohibition in certain other areas.

Disability Discrimination Act 1992

Disability Discrimination Bill 1992, Bills Digest , 26 May 1992.

To make it unlawful, in a limited number of circumstances, to discriminate on grounds of disability and establish within the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission the office of Disability Discrimination Commissioner.

Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Act 2015

M Klapdor, Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Bill 2015, Bills digest, no. 36, 2015–16, 22 October 2015.

Amends the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 (the FA Act) to tighten the immunisation requirements for the FTB-A supplement, CCB and CCR. It will remove the exemption from the immunisation requirements for those who submit a conscientious objection to immunisation and will remove the Minister for Social Services’ power to exempt a class of persons from the requirements by legislative instrument.