A bill is a proposal for a law or a change to an existing law. A bill becomes law (an Act) when agreed to in identical form by both houses of Parliament and assented to by the Governor-General.

Bills introduced to Parliament are scrutinised to make sure they meet certain standards and to consider whether they should be referred to a committee for further investigation. This can include feedback from stakeholders and the general public, and a report recommending potential improvements to the bill.

Current Parliament

84

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50

Bills assented to

4

Bills not proceeding

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TOTAL RESULTS: 111

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  • Maritime Legislation Amendment (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Bill 2007

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    06 Dec 2006 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Transport and Regional Services 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Navigation Act 1912
    and
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
    to: implement Australia’s obligations under Annex VI (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships; update certain references; and remove the limit in the
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
    on the amount of penalty for a breach of a regulation or an order. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Maritime Legislation Amendment (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Bill 2003

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    25 Mar 2003 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Transport and Regional Services 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Navigation Act 1912
    and
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
    to update cross-references and reflect the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships, set out in Annex IV of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, which will ensure that the level of environmental protection from marine sewage in Australia is consistent with internationally adopted standards. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2003

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    11 Dec 2002 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Transport and Regional Services 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability) Act 1981
    and
    Protection of the Sea (Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Act 1993
    to increase the monetary liability and compensation for pollution damage resulting from the escape or discharge of “persistent oil” (heavy oils which do not evaporate readily) from oil tankers;
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
    to prohibit the disposal from a ship into the sea of incinerator ashes from plastic products which may contain toxic or heavy metal residues; allow garbage disposal placards to be written in Spanish (rather than English or French); and convert penalties from monetary amounts to penalty units.
    Trade Practices Act 1974
    to clarify that stevedoring operators are not permitted to collude in setting charges for stevedoring services. Also repeals the
    Bass Strait Sea Passenger Service Agreement Act 1984
    . 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2007

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    08 Aug 2007 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Transport and Regional Services 
    Summary
    Repeals the
    Maritime College Act 1978
    to facilitate the integration of the Australian Maritime College with the University of Tasmania including the transfer of all assets and liabilities from the College to the University and makes transitional arrangements. Amendments consequential to the repeal are made to the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    ,
    Legislative Instruments Act 2003
    ,
    Public Works Committee Act 1969
    and
    Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973
    . Amendments to the
    Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990
    enable the Authority to disclose certain maritime information to States and Territories. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    22 Sep 2011 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure and Transport 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Navigation Act 1912
    to create offences for: negligently operating a vessel in Australia’s waters in a manner that causes pollution or damage to the marine environment; and failure to report an incident by a ship in a mandatory reporting area;
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
    to increase and extend penalties for reckless or negligent discharge of oil or oil residues by ships; and proposed
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment (Oils in the Antarctic Area) Act 2011
    to repeal certain items. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage (Relationships Equality) Amendment Bill 2007

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    01 Mar 2007 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    NETTLE, Kerry 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to amend the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage (Relationships Equality) Amendment Bill 2008

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    14 Feb 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    NETTLE, Kerry 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to amend the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment Bill 2002

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    14 Feb 2002 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: reform the Marriage Celebrants Program, primarily to raise the level of professional standards required of celebrants and have them promote pre-marriage and other relationship education services, including the creation of the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants, and review of certain decisions by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and make technical amendments in relation to: the Notice of Intended Marriage; passports as a means of identification; authorisation of a shortened timeframe between lodgment of a Notice of Intended Marriage and the marriage; and removal of redundant provisions. Also contains transitional provisions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Amendment Bill 2004

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    24 Jun 2004 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: define marriage as a union of a man and a woman; and clarify that same-sex marriages entered into under the law of another country will not be recognised in Australia. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    24 Jun 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: remove all discriminatory references based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and allow marriage regardless of sex, sexuality and gender identity. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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Bills lists

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Parliament delegates the power to legislate so details of law can be changed quickly by others. These delegated laws are referred to as legislative instruments and can be overruled – disallowed – by Parliament.

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The introduction of a tariff proposal is the formal procedure for initiating the collection of customs and excise duties.

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To inquire and report views on the bill from organisations and individuals.

Bills currently referred to House committees (PDF 313KB)

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