Sitting week beginning Monday, 25 March 2024

Sitting week beginning Monday, 25 March 2024 — 5th House sitting week of the 47th Parliament’s 2024 Autumn sittings.

This page summarises matters expected to be considered by the House of Representatives and its Federation Chamber. It is updated weekly during sittings. For a full report of the business dealt with, including a list of documents presented, go to the Votes and Proceedings. To read the debates, including question time, go to Hansard.

For details about the proposed program of business for each sitting of the House and Federation Chamber and that sitting’s public hearings of House and joint committees go to the House Daily Program (usually available at least 1 hour before the House is scheduled to meet).

This week the House is expected to sit on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in a pattern similar to that described in the Infosheet 'A typical sitting day'. On Monday 18 March the House resolved to not meet on Thursday 28 March.

The Federation Chamber is also expected to meet on Monday (10.30am to 1.30pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm), Tuesday (from 4pm to 7.30pm) and on Wednesday (from 9.30am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7.30pm).

For details about House and Federation Chamber standard hours see the order of business diagram at http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Chamber_documents/HoR/Order_of_Business

Real time tracking of business done by the House and the Federation Chamber

You can track each item of business as it is being done in the House Chamber and the Federation Chamber by using the “LiveMinutes” service.

You can see proceedings of the House and the Federation Chamber via the webcasts at www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen.

Legislation

For information on how laws are made go to 'Making Laws', for the text of each bill go to Billsnet after the Bill is introduced.

Government bills are expected to be introduced into the House this week. These bills will be listed on the House Daily Program and the text of each bill will be available on ParlInfo after they are introduced.

Details of bills to be introduced are not available prior to their introduction.

On Monday in the House at 10.35 am the following private Members’ bills are expected to be introduced:

• Crimes and Online Safety Legislation Amendment (Combatting Online Notoriety) Bill 2024 — Mr Coleman (Lib, Banks, NSW)
• Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bill 2024 — Mr Katter (KAP, Kennedy, Qld)
• Electoral Legislation Amendment (Fair and Transparent Elections) Bill 2024 — Ms Chaney (Ind, Curtin, WA)

In the House during the week it is planned to resume debate on the following Government bills already introduced (note – these plans may change as the week unfolds, especially if some of the bills listed below are referred to the Federation Chamber by the House):

Monday

• Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024
• Communications Legislation Amendment (Prominence and Anti-siphoning) Bill 2023
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023
• Superannuation (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions) Imposition Bill 2023

Tuesday

• Health Legislation Amendment (Removal of Requirement for a Collaborative Arrangement) Bill 2024
• National Cancer Screening Register Amendment Bill 2024
• Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2024
• Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2024
• Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024

Wednesday

• Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024
• Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023
• Superannuation (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions) Imposition Bill 2023

In the Federation Chamber debate on Government business matters and committee and delegation reports occurs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Debate may be resumed on matters previously referred or items may be referred during the week.

• See also: Infosheet 7 – Making Laws

Committee and delegation reports and statements and private Members’ motions

On Monday at approximately 11.05 am the following private Members’ motions will be debated in the House:

• Future Made in Australia — Ms Mascarenhas (ALP, Swan, WA)
• Live sheep export — Mr Ramsey (Lib, Grey, SA)
• Decarbonised industries — Ms Chaney (Ind, Curtin, WA)

At 11am on Monday the following private Member’s motions will be debated in the Federation Chamber.

• Student debt — Mr Chandler-Mather (AG, Griffith, Qld)
• International Women’s Day — Ms Claydon (ALP, Newcastle, NSW)
• Services Australia — Mr Fletcher (Lib, Bradfield, NSW)
• Multicultural communities — Mr Laxale (ALP, Bennelong, NSW)
• Export Market Development Grants — Mr Hogan (NP, Page, NSW)

At 4.45pm on Monday the following private Members’ motions will be debated in the Federation Chamber.

• Cost of living — Mr Hamilton (Lib, Groom, Qld)
• Scams — Ms Fernando (ALP, Holt, Vic)
• Live sheep export — Mr Ramsey (Lib, Grey, SA)
• Home Guarantee Scheme — Ms Byrnes (ALP, Cunningham, NSW)
• Decarbonised industries — Ms Chaney (Ind, Curtin, WA)

• See also: Infosheet 7 – Making Laws

Auditor-General’s reports

2023-24 reports of the Auditor-General may be presented after question time.

• Audit Reports on Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) website

Matters of Public Importance

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after question time, in accordance with the House's standing orders, it is possible for the House to discuss a matter of public importance (MPI). If an MPI is proposed by a Member, and is in order, the subject of the MPI will be announced shortly after midday on each of these days and published on the House's website. If more than one MPI is proposed the Speaker will decide which MPI is the most urgent and important to be submitted to the House that day.

• See also: Infosheet 2 – A typical sitting day

Grievance debate

In accordance with standing orders Grievance Debate is held on sitting Tuesdays in the Federation Chamber. At no later than 6.30pm debate is resumed on the question ‘That grievances be noted’ and debate ensues for one hour. Debate on the question is practically unlimited in scope, giving Members the opportunity, in 10 minute speeches, to raise matters in which they have a particular interest or to discuss complaints of constituents.

• Order of business diagrams

Petitions

This week Members' may present petitions during the time reserved for Members' Statements in the House and the Federation Chamber, during the time reserved for Members’ constituency statements in the Federation Chamber and during the Adjournment Debates of the House and the Federation Chamber.

For more details about petitioning the House of Representatives see the petitions webpage.

For details about House and Federation Chamber debate times see the order of business diagram.

See Also:

• Petitioning the House of Representatives
• Standing Committee on Petitions
• House and Federation Chamber debate times (order of business diagrams)