Week beginning 18 March 2024

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

• Cook electoral division—Issue of Writ (18 March)
• Speaker announced the Return to Writ for the electoral division of Dunkley, and the Member for Dunkley made and subscribed the oath of allegiance (18 March)
• Condolence motion relating to death of Senator Linda White (18 March)
• Condolence motion relating to the death of Lance Corporal Jack Patrick Fitzgibbon, son of former Member Hon Joel Fitzgibbon (21 March)

Legislation

5 bills were presented, and 10 bills were passed by the House.

Matters of Public Importance

• Government policies (19 March)
• Regional families (20 March)
• Energy affordability (21 March)

Committee and delegation business

Committee reports presented

Standing Committee on Appropriations and Administration

• Report No. 27: Annual report 2022-23 (21 March)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

• Human rights scrutiny report: Report 2 of 2024, incorporating a dissenting report (20 March)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

• Advisory report on the Defence Amendment (Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets) Bill 2023 (18 March)
• Advisory report on the amendments made by the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Repudiation) Bill 2023: Also reporting on review of Subdivision C of Division 3 of Part 2 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (citizenship cessation determinations) (21 March)
• Advisory report on the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 3) Bill 2023 (21 March)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement

• Report on committee visit to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (21 March)

Standing Committee on Petitions

• Report 23: Petitions and Ministerial responses (18 March)

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works

• Airservices Australia (19 March)

Selection Committee

• Report No. 24 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 25 March 2024. (20 March)

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

• Report 214: Acts of the Universal Postal Union (20 March)

Delegation reports presented

• Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, Accra, 1 to 5 October 2023 (18 March)

Private Members' business

No private members' bills were introduced on Monday, 18 March

The following private members' motions were moved and debated on Monday, 18 March

• Economic management—Ms J Ryan (Lalor, VIC)
• Endometriosis awareness month—Ms J Ryan for Ms Chesters (Bendigo, VIC)
• Food retail sector—Mr Gee for Mr Katter (Kennedy, QLD)
• Home guarantee scheme—Ms Byrnes (Cunningham, NSW)
• Illicit tobacco—Mr Conaghan (Cowper, NSW)
• Power bills—Ms Spender (Wentworth, NSW)
• Protecting children from online harm—Mr Coleman (Banks, NSW)
• Science Meets Parliament—Ms Mascarenhas (Swan, WA)
• Sleep health—Dr Freelander (Macarthur, NSW)
• Wine grape growers—Mr Pasin (Barker, SA)

Debate resumed on the following private members' motions on Monday, 18 March

• Cost of living—Mr Burnell (Spence, SA)
• Voice to Parliament referendum —Ms Price (Durack, WA)