This week in the House

Sitting week beginning Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Sitting week beginning Tuesday, 22 July 2025 — Opening week or first sitting week of the 48th Parliament.

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 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Federation Chamber is not expected to meet this week.

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.

Opening Day - Tuesday 22 July 2025

The main elements of Opening Day, and approximate times, are expected to be as follows -

8.45 am - Members assemble in the Great Hall for the Welcome to Country ceremony.

10.25 am - Bells, Members assemble in the Chamber, Serjeant- at-Arms places Mace below Table as bells cease.

10.30 am - The Clerk reads the proclamation calling Parliament together.

(House then awaits arrival of Usher of the Black Rod at Chamber door).

The Usher of the Black Rod announces that the Deputy of Her Excellency the Governor General desires the attendance of Members in the Senate Chamber. Usher of the Black Rod retires and the House proceeds to the Senate chamber.

In the Senate Chamber the authority of the Deputy to open Parliament will be read. The Deputy declares Parliament open and then informs Parliament that after Members have made an oath or affirmation of allegiance and the Speaker has been chosen, Her Excellency the Governor General will declare the causes of the calling together of the Parliament. Members return to the House.

(There is a pause in the proceedings at this point while Justice Gordon is escorted to the Chamber).

10.55 am - Serjeant-at-Arms conducts the Hon. Michelle Gordon AC to the Chamber. The Justice is received standing and her Associate hands to the Clerk the Justice’s authority to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance. The Clerk reads the authority. The Clerk lays on the Table the writs for the general election of Members of the House of Representatives held on 3 May 2025.

Members are called to the Table in groups, make an oath or affirmation and sign the form.

After the Justice signs the attestation forms (containing details of the number of Members sworn and affirmed) she retires from the Chamber.

11.35 am - Election of Speaker takes place, the Speaker takes the Chair and the Serjeant-at-Arms places Mace on the Table.

Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of The Nationals and other Members offer their congratulations. The Speaker makes an acknowledgment. The Prime Minister informs the House that the Governor-General will receive the Speaker, in the Members’ Hall, immediately after the resumption of the sitting at 2.40 pm.

Sitting suspended until 2.40 pm.

2.35 pm - pm Bells.

2.40pm - Speaker resumes the Chair and says “I shall be glad if honourable Members will accompany me when I present myself to Her Excellency the Governor-General”. Speaker is presented to Her Excellency the Governor-General in the Members Hall, then Members return to the House and the Speaker resumes the Chair.

Oaths or affirmations are administered to any Members not already sworn or affirmed.

(There is a pause in the proceedings at this point while the Senate assembles and the Governor-General proceeds to that Chamber.)

3.05 pm - Usher of the Black Rod arrives at, and knocks three times on Chamber door, is admitted and announces “Speaker — Her Excellency the Governor-General desires the attendance of honourable Members in the Senate Chamber” and then retires from Chamber.

Speaker, preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms with Mace, accompanied by the Clerks, and followed by Party Leaders and Members, depart the House Chamber and proceed to the Senate Chamber. Once all are seated in the Senate Chamber Her Excellency declares the causes of the calling together of the Parliament. Her Excellency retires from the Senate Chamber and the Speaker and Members return to the House.

Speaker to call the Prime Minister (who will announce the Ministry, ministerial representation and Whips), then the Leader of the Opposition (who will announce the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow ministerial representation and Whips) and then the Leader of The Nationals (who will announce the Leader of The Nationals and Whips).

Speaker to call the Prime Minister who will present the “formal bill”. The second reading of the Bill is then made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Speaker to present a copy of the Governor-General’s speech and the Prime Minister to move that a Committee be appointed to prepare an Address-in-Reply to the speech delivered by Her Excellency the Governor-General.

Sitting suspended until later in the afternoon at the ringing of the bells.

5.00 pm - Bells, Speaker resumes the Chair.

The Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker are elected. Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of The Nationals and other Members offer their congratulations. The Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker make acknowledgments.

Government business (see Legislation, below)

Legislation

For information on how laws are made go to Making laws, for the text of each bill go to Bills and Legislation 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.

Auditor-General’s reports

2024-25 and 2025-26 reports of the Auditor-General may be presented after question time.

Matters of Public Importance

On 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.

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.

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Notice Paper

 

Votes and Proceedings

Bills and Legislation

See also:

Sitting hours for this week

For details about House and Federation Chamber standard hours see the order of business diagrams.

Following proceedings in the House

You can track each item of business as it is being done in the House Chamber and the House Main Committee by using LiveMinutes, which is an online version of the Draft Minutes.  

You can see proceedings of the House Chamber and Federation Chamber via the webcasts at the Watch Parliament page.

Replays of Question Time are available to view from you desktop, iOS or Android device from the About the House news page. Question Time replays are also available from our Youtube channel youtube.com/aboutthehouse.

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