Every sitting day, time is set aside for what is known as 'Discovery of Formal Business'. This is an opportunity for business to be 'fast-tracked' - that is, moved and determined without debate.

Senate Discovery is a video series designed to 'fast-track' information about Senate business and the work of its committees.

Current episodes | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |  2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |

Senate Discovery: 25 November to 5 December 2019

• Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill 2019
• Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019
• Orders for the production of documents
• Senator Molan
• Senator Bernardi - valedictories

Senate Discovery: 11 to 14 November 2019

Senate Discovery: 14 to 25 October 2019

• Emergency Response Fund Bill 2019 and a related bill
• Civil Aviation (Community Service Flights – Conditions on Flight Crew Licences) Instrument 2019 - debate
• Senator Henderson – First speech
• Senator Sinodinos - Valedictories
• Senate estimates

Senate Discovery: 9 to 19 September 2019

• Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Members’ Interests First) Bill 2019
• Current committee inquiries
• Bills referred to committees
• First speeches:
  • Senators Scarr, Van and Rennick
  • Senators Marielle Smith and Walsh
  • Senators Antic and Davey
  • Senator McMahon

Senate Discovery: 22 July to 1 August 2019

Senate Discovery: 2 to 4 July 2019

• Opening of the 46th Parliament
• President of the Senate
• Condolence motions for former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Relief So Working Australians Keep More Of Their Money) Bill 2019
• Current committee inquiries
• Select Committee on the effectiveness of the Australian Government’s Northern Australia agenda

Senate Discovery: 2 to 11 April 2019

• Christchurch tragedy – condolence motion
• Censure motion
• First speeches – Senator Askew; Senator Spender
• Condolence motions for former Senators Herron and MacIntosh
• Valedictories
• Budget reply
• Estimates – daily summaries and video replays
• Committee reports
• Prorogation – what does this mean for the Senate?
• Contact the Senate Public Information Office

Senate Discovery: 12 to 22 February 2019

• Home Affairs Legislation (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2018
• Senate Weekly Summary
• Establishment of a Royal Commission to investigate violence, abuse and neglect of disabled people
• Closing the Gap report - debate
• The people behind 000: mental health of our first responders
• Recent Senate committee reports
• Former Senator Barney Cooney - condolences
• Valedictories – Senators Williams and Leyonhjelm; Senator Collins