Every sitting day, time is set aside for what is known as 'Discovery of Formal Business'. This is an opportunity for business to be 'fast-tracked' - that is, moved and determined without debate.

Senate Discovery is a video series designed to 'fast-track' information about Senate business and the work of its committees.

Current episodes | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014

Senate Discovery: 23 November to 3 December 2015

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• Statements of condolence regarding terrorist attacks
• Treatment of people with disability in institutional and residential settings
  • Committee report
  • Tabling speeches
• Recent committee reports
• Current committee inquiries
• Social Services Legislation Amendment (No Jab, No Pay) Bill 2015
• Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015
• Tax Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2015
• Australian Crime Commission Amendment (Criminology Research) Bill 2015
• Migration and Maritime Powers Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2015
• Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill 2015

Senate Discovery: 9-12 November 2015

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• Senate standing orders
• Customs Amendment (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2015
  • Related bill
  • Committee report
  • Second reading debate
• Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013
  • Second reading debate
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Harming Australians) Bill 2015
  • Second reading debate
• 2016 sitting calendar

Senate Discovery: 12-23 October 2015

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• Senator Robert Simms – first speech
• Social Security Legislation Amendment (Debit Card Trial) Bill 2015
• Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014
• Getting our money’s worth – committee report on private vocational education and training providers
• Senate estimates

Senate Discovery: 7-17 September 2015

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• Water Amendment Bill 2015
• Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Consumer Lease Exclusion) Bill 2015
• Social Services Legislation Amendment (Youth Employment and Other Measures) Bill 2015
• Current committee inquiries
• Popular vote on the matter of marriage – committee report; tabling speeches
• Former Senator Penny Wright
• Senator Nick McKim – first speech

Senate Discovery: 10-20 August 2015

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• Medical Research Future Fund Bill 2015 and a related bill
  • Committee report
• Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 and a related bill
• Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2014 [No. 2]
• Potential double dissolution triggers
• Out of home care – committee report
  • Tabling speeches
• Corporate tax avoidance – interim committee report
  • Tabling speeches
• Senator Lindgren – first speech
• Senator Nick McKim – swearing-in
• Senator Wright – valedictories

Senate Discovery: 15 - 25 June 2015

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• Senator Joanna Lindgren
• Senator Gallagher’s first speech
• Senator McAllister’s first speech
• Senator Milne’s speech
• Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015
  • Second reading speeches
• Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2015
  • Second reading speeches – 15 June part 1, part 2; 17 June part 1, part 2
• Migration Amendment (Regional Processing Arrangements) Bill 2015
  • Second reading speeches
• Communications Legislation Amendment (SBS Advertising Flexibility and Other Measures) Bill 2015
  • Second reading speeches – 16 June part 1, part 2; 24 June
• Orders for production of documents
• Senate Standing Committee on Procedure – Second report of 2015
• Senate Committees – current inquiries

Senate Discovery: 11 - 14 May 2015

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• Senator Jenny McAllister
• Biosecurity Bill 2014
• Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015
• Condolence motions for former Senator Peter Walsh
• Budget 2015
• Appropriation Bills
• Senate estimates

Senate Discovery: 16 - 26 March 2015

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• Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014
• Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2015
• Defence Amendment (Fair Pay for Members of the ADF) Bill 2014
• Domestic violence in Australia – interim report; tabling speeches
• Composition of the Senate
• Valedictories – Senator Lundy; Senator Mason
• Senator Katy Gallagher
• Rt Hon. John Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH - condolences
• Current committee inquiries
• Upcoming hearings

Senate Discovery: 23 February - 5 March 2015

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• Senate estimates
• Ministerial accountability and censure motions
• Debate on censure motion – 2 March
• Motion to bring on debate on the deployment of Australian troops – 3 March
• Committee report on the Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014 and a related bill
• Senator Muir’s first speech

Senate Discovery: 9-12 February 2015

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• Casual vacancies - Senate Brief No. 1; Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice
• Statements relating to the Martin Place siege
• Mr Myuran Sukumaran and Mr Andrew Chan – Senate resolution
• Closing the Gap – Progress and priorities report; Senate debate
• Inquiry into the abuse of people with disability in institutional and residential care
• Senate Daily Summary

• Senate Estimates