The sitting fortnight featured: an address by the President of the European Commission, the rapid passage of fuel pricing and security bills, and a Member directed to leave the Chamber for three hours.
Address by the President of the European Commission
On Tuesday, 24 March, in accordance with a resolution agreed the previous day, the Speaker welcomed the President of the Senate and Senators as guests before inviting the President of the European Commission, Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, to the floor. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition made welcoming remarks, with the Prime Minister noting that President von der Leyen was the first female world leader to address the Australian Parliament. President von der Leyen then gave her address. The Speaker expressed thanks on behalf of the House and President von der Leyen was escorted from the House. The sitting of the House was suspended until the ringing of the bells, in accordance with the resolution. Question Time then commenced at the later time of 3.01pm.
President von der Leyen addresses the Australian Parliament. Photo courtesy AUSPIC/DPS
Revised shadow ministry list
Just before Question Time on 23 March, the Leader of the Opposition presented a revised shadow ministry list reflecting changes made and announced on 16 March. As is standard practice, the list was incorporated in the Hansard for that day.
Legislation
Twenty-two Government bills were presented in the House during the fortnight. This included six bills introduced in response to rising fuel prices, which rapidly passed both Houses.
Two Government bills were transmitted from the Senate for the concurrence of the House.
Passage of bills relating to fuel prices and fuel security
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 was introduced, pursuant to notice, on 25 March. Debate on the second reading was adjourned. The Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026 was introduced, pursuant to notice, on the morning of 26 March. The Manger of Opposition Business moved to suspend standing orders to immediately call on debate on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026, and to allow the bill to proceed through all stages without interruption, with a time limits for second reading speeches and the consideration in detail stage (if required) to conclude at 1pm. Debate ensued, and the Leader of the House moved to amend the motion to call on both bills immediately for concurrent debate, and to allow both bills to proceed through all stages without interruption. The suspension motion, as amended, was agreed on division. In accordance with the resolution, the two bills were then called on and debated together. An Opposition amendment to a crossbench second reading amendment was negatived, as was the original amendment. The bills were then read together a second and third time.
On Monday, 30 March, the Leader of the House moved, without notice, to suspend standing orders to allow the presentation of three fuel bills, with debate to be adjourned until a later hour after each Minister’s second reading speech. The motion further provided that, upon resumption of debate, the three bills be debated in cognate, with debate to conclude by 5.30pm and any remaining questions necessary to pass the bills to be put. The motion passed with the concurrence of an absolute majority. Second reading and detail amendments to the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Strategic Reserve) Bill 2026 were negatived on division. That bill, as well as the Appropriation (Fuel Security Response) Bills 2025–26 (No. 1) and (No. 2), passed on the voices.
On 31 March, the Leader of the House moved, pursuant to notice, to suspend standing orders to allow debate on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026 to continue after the Minister’s second reading speech, to resume (if needed) after the matter of public importance and presentation of a delegation report, and to conclude no later than 5.30pm. The Treasurer then presented the bill. A Shadow Minister moved a second reading amendment, which was negatived on division after debate resumed that afternoon. The bill then passed all remaining stages on the voices.
Private Members’ bills and a private Senator’s bill
Three private Members’ bills were introduced during the fortnight. These related to agricultural land, gambling advertising and citizenship. One private Senator’s bill, relating to Housing Australia, was transmitted for the concurrence of the House on 26 March and was read a first time.
Member directed to leave for three hours
Standing order 94 (sanctions against disorderly conduct) was amended at the beginning of the 48th Parliament, to allow the Speaker to direct a Member to leave the Chamber for three hours, where there is continued or escalating disorderly conduct. The Speaker invoked this sanction for the first time during Question Time on 24 March, when he directed a Member to leave the Chamber for three hours for interjecting.
Parliamentary committees
Committees continued their work during the fortnight with meetings, public hearings and presentation of reports.
On 1 April, the House appointed eight Members (nominated by the Prime Minister) to the new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence. The legislation establishing the committee passed into law in March 2026.
Communication with the Senate
Message traffic this fortnight related to the passage of legislation. This included House bills that had been passed without amendment or requests, Senate bills for the concurrence of the House, and three House bills that were returned with amendments. The latter three were the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025, the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Bill 2025 and the Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025. The House agreed to all Senate amendments.
The House is scheduled to meet next on 12 May, for the delivery of the Federal Budget.