Week beginning 16 October 2023

This page provides an overview of the key events of the last sitting week in the House of Representatives. It includes all bills presented and debated, and selected statements, debates and committee business. For the official record of proceedings, see the Votes and Proceedings. For a detailed procedural account of events, see the Procedural Digest and House Review.

Key events

The Prime Minister moved a motion relating to the Hamas attacks on Israel and ongoing conflict (16 October). Further statements were made on 16 October, 17 October, and 18 October
Condolence motion relating to the deaths of Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Phillip Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs (16 October)
The Speaker informed the House of the death of former member Garry Owen Barr Nehl AM (16 October)
Statement on a significant matter—Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (19 October)
Program of sittings for 2024 presented and agreed to (19 October)

Legislation

13 bills were presented, and 6 bills were passed by the House.

Bills introduced and debated in the House
The following bills were presented
Debate resumed on the following bills
The following bills were agreed to
The following bills were returned by the Senate with amendments
- Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023 (House agreed to Senate amendments)
- Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 (House agreed to Senate amendments)
- Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023 (House agreed to Senate amendment)
- Migration Amendment (Australia’s Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023 (House agreed to Senate amendments)

Ministerial Statements

Northern Australia—Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories (17 October)
Government response to the Security Risk Management Review (Ashton Review)—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services (19 October)

Matters of Public Importance

Voice referendum (17 October)
Cost of living (18 October)
Royal commission (19 October)

Committee and delegation business

Committee reports presented

Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors: ‘Quality and Integrity—the Quest for Sustainable Growth’—Interim report into international education (19 October)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

Human rights scrutiny report: Report 11 of 2023 (18 October)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Report by statement: A review of regulations relisting Islamic State East Asia as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (19 October)
Advisory report on the Counter-Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (19 October)

Standing Committee on Petitions

Report 16: Petitions and Ministerial responses (16 October)

Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit

Report 499: Inquiry into the annual performance statements 2021-22 (18 October)

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works

National Capital Authority—Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, Canberra, ACT, Renewal Project (7th report of 2023) (17 October)

Selection Committee

Report No. 19 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 13 November 2023 (18 October)

Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth

Australia’s trade and investment opportunities in a global green economy, incorporating dissenting reports (17 October)

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

Report 212: Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Republic of India (18 October)

Government responses

Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport

Walking the allergy tightrope: Addressing the rise of allergies and anaphylaxis in Australia (18 October)

Joint Select Committee on Road Safety

Driving reform: Final report for the inquiry into road safety (18 October)

Delegation reports presented

There were no delegation reports presented

Private Members' business

The following private members' bills were introduced on Monday, 16 October

Brisbane Airport Curfew and Demand Management Bill 2023—Ms Watson-Brown (Ryan, QLD)
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Expanding the Water Trigger) Bill 2023—Dr Scamps (Mackellar, NSW)

The following private members' motions were moved and debated on Monday, 16 October

Cost of living—Dr Scamps (Mackellar, NSW)
Energy generation—Ms Ware for Mr T O'Brien (Fairfax, QLD)
Energy supply—Ms Ware (Hughes, NSW)
Illicit tobacco and vapes—Mr L O'Brien (Wide Bay, QLD)
Income support payments—Ms Lawrence (Hasluck, WA)
Investment in infrastructure—Mr Pasin (Barker, SA)
Medicare—Ms J Ryan (Lalor, VIC)
National Cultural Policy—Ms Templeman (Macquarie, NSW)
Proposed Joint Select Committee on Oversight of the Implementation of Recommendations of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme—Ms Chaney (Curtin, WA)
Stronger Communities Programme—Mr Chester (Gippsland, VIC)
United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement—Mr Neumann (Blair, QLD)

More information

These Infosheets provide useful information about the business of the House and Federation Chamber.

For the official record of the proceedings of the House, including a list of papers presented, go to the Votes and Proceedings. To read transcripts of the debates, go to Hansard.

Week beginning 16 October 2023