A bill is a proposal for a law or a change to an existing law. A bill becomes law (an Act) when agreed to in identical form by both houses of Parliament and assented to by the Governor-General.

Bills introduced to Parliament are scrutinised to make sure they meet certain standards and to consider whether they should be referred to a committee for further investigation. This can include feedback from stakeholders and the general public, and a report recommending potential improvements to the bill.

Current Parliament

99

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92

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TOTAL RESULTS: 340

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  • Marriage Act Amendment (Recognition of Foreign Marriages for Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2013

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    16 May 2013 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to provide that same-sex marriages validly entered into in foreign countries are recognised under the laws of Australia. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2013

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    20 Mar 2013 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2013, the bill amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: provide for a celebrant registration charge to be imposed from 1 July 2013 on Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants who are authorised under the Marriage Celebrants Program to perform marriages; provide for the deregistration of celebrants who do not pay the celebrant registration charge or obtain an exemption; enable the imposition of a registration application fee for prospective celebrants seeking registration; provide for exemptions and the imposition of processing fees for applications for exemptions; remove the requirement for performance reviews every five years of marriage celebrants; and make minor amendments to the Marriage Celebrants Program. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment (Celebrant Administration and Fees) Bill 2014

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    20 Mar 2014 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Marriage (Celebrant Registration Charge) Bill 2014, the bill amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: provide for a celebrant registration charge to be imposed from 1 July 2014 on Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants who are authorised under the Marriage Celebrants Program to perform marriages; provide for the deregistration of celebrants who do not pay the celebrant registration charge or obtain an exemption; enable the imposition of a registration application fee for prospective celebrants seeking registration; provide for exemptions and the imposition of processing fees for applications for exemptions; enable the minister to approve forms; remove the requirement for performance reviews every five years of marriage celebrants; and make minor amendments to the Marriage Celebrants Program. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    15 Nov 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Sponsor
    SMITH, Sen Dean 
    Summary
    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. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    01 Jun 2015 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    SHORTEN, Bill, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: define marriage as a union of two people; clarify that ministers of religion are not bound to solemnise marriage by any other law; remove the prohibition of the recognition of same sex marriages solemnised in a foreign country; and include a regulation making power so that consequential amendments can be made to other Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment (Marriage Equality) Bill 2016

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    02 May 2016 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PLIBERSEK, Tanya, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: define marriage as a union of two people; clarify that ministers of religion are not bound to solemnise marriage by any other law; remove the prohibition of the recognition of same sex marriages solemnised in a foreign country; and include a regulation making power so that consequential amendments can be made to other Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    10 Sep 2012 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    CROSSIN, Sen Trish
    BROWN, Sen Carol
    PRATT, Sen Louise
    MARSHALL, Sen Gavin 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: enable same-sex marriages to be recognised; and place no obligation on a minister of religion to solemnise a same-sex marriage. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment Bill 2001

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    27 Sep 2001 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General portfolio 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment Bill 2002

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    14 Feb 2002 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: reform the Marriage Celebrants Program, primarily to raise the level of professional standards required of celebrants and have them promote pre-marriage and other relationship education services, including the creation of the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants, and review of certain decisions by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and make technical amendments in relation to: the Notice of Intended Marriage; passports as a means of identification; authorisation of a shortened timeframe between lodgment of a Notice of Intended Marriage and the marriage; and removal of redundant provisions. Also contains transitional provisions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment Bill 2004

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    24 Jun 2004 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: define marriage as a union of a man and a woman; and clarify that same-sex marriages entered into under the law of another country will not be recognised in Australia. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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