Week beginning 26 February 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

• Speaker informed the House of the death of former member Manfred Douglas Cross AM (26 February)
• Former Prime Minister and Member for Cook, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, made valedictory remarks (27 February)
  •  The Speaker informed the House of the resignation of the Member for Cook (29 February)
• President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., addressed the House (29 February)

Legislation

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

Matters of Public Importance

• Cost of living (27 February)
• Food retailing (28 February)
• Cost of living (29 February)

Committee and delegation business

Committee reports presented

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement

• Examination of the Australian Federal Police annual report 2022-23 (29 February)
• Examination of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission annual report 2022-23 (29 February)

Joint Standing Committee on National Disability Insurance Scheme

• General issues—Annual report No. 1 of the 47th Parliament, incorporating dissenting reports (29 February)

Standing Committee on Petitions

• Report 21: Petitions and Ministerial responses (26 February)
• Report 22: Ministerial response (29 February)

Selection Committee

• Report No. 23 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 18 March 2024 (27 February)

Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs

• Inquiry into the Administrative Review Tribunal Bill 2023 and the Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 1) Bill 2023, incorporating dissenting reports (28 February)

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

• Visit by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: India and Singapore, 10 to 16 December 2023 (28 February)

Government responses

Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport

• Sick and tired: Casting a long shadow—Inquiry into long COVID and repeated COVID infections (26 February)

Delegation reports presented

There were no delegation reports presented

Private Members' business

The following private members' bills were introduced on Monday, 26 February

• Accountability of Grants, Investment Mandates and Use of Public Resources Amendment (End Pork Barrelling) Bill 2024—Dr Haines (Indi, VIC)
• Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Stop PEP11 Forever and Protect Our Coastal Waters) Bill 2024—Ms Steggall (Warringah, NSW)

The following private members' motions were moved and debated on Monday, 26 February

• Airline industry—Mr Wilkie (Clark, TAS)
• Cuban embargo—Ms Claydon (Newcastle, NSW)
• Lobbyists—Dr M Ryan (Kooyong, VIC)
• Multicultural communities—Mr Laxale (Bennelong, NSW)
• New housing—Ms Ware (Hughes, NSW)
• Passports—Mr Caldwell (Fadden, QLD)
• Regional Australia—Mrs Phillips (Gilmore, NSW)
• Road network—Mr Pasin (Barker, SA)
• Support for Ukraine—Mr Wallace for Mr Leeser (Berowra, NSW)
• Voice to Parliament referendum—Ms Price (Durack, WA)

Debate resumed on the following private member's motion on Monday, 26 February

• Better and fairer education system—Dr Reid (Robertson, NSW)
• Industrial relations—Mr Rae (Hawke, VIC)