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

98

Bills before Parliament

53

Bills assented to

5

Bills not proceeding

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Current Bills
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TOTAL RESULTS: 98

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  • Landholders’ Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal) Bill 2015

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    04 Mar 2015 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    WATERS, Sen Larissa 
    Summary
    The bill: provides that Australian landholders have the right to refuse the undertaking of gas and coal mining activities by corporations on their land without prior written authorisation; sets out the requirements of a prior written authorisation; provides for relief which a court may grant a land owner when prior written authorisation is not provided; prohibits hydraulic fracturing for coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas by corporations; and provides for civil penalties. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Plebiscite (Future Migration Level) Bill 2018

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    15 Aug 2018 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    Establishes a legislative framework for a national plebiscite to be held in conjunction with the next general election that would ask Australians “Do you think the current rate of immigration to Australia is too high?”. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Audio Description) Bill 2019

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    12 Feb 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    STEELE-JOHN, Sen Jordon 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: require national broadcasters, commercial television broadcasting licensees and subscription television licensees to provide a minimum number of hours of television audio description per week; and provide for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to enforce and review the new requirement. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Australian Education Legislation Amendment (Prohibiting the Indoctrination of Children) Bill 2020

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    10 Feb 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Act 2008
    to require the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority to ensure that school education provides a balanced presentation of opposing views on political, historical and scientific issues; and
    Australian Education Act 2013
    to make financial assistance to a state or territory conditional on the state or territory having certain laws in force. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Customs Legislation Amendment (Commercial Greyhound Export and Import Prohibition) Bill 2021

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    01 Sep 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    FARUQI, Sen Mehreen 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958
    and
    Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956
    to prohibit the export and import of greyhounds for racing, breeding and commercial purposes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2022

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    05 Sep 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    to: require actions that would emit between 25,000 to 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions in any one year to be assessed for approval under Part 9 of the Act; require the minister, when approving any such action or when considering whether to enter into a conservation agreement, to consider Australia’s national carbon budget and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; require the minister to reject the approval of actions that would emit over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions; require the Climate Change Authority to develop a national carbon budget to 2050 and to annually assess the budget; prohibit the minister, subject to certain exceptions, from using alternative approval processes for certain emissions intensive actions; and introduce penalties for undertaking certain emissions intensive actions without approval if the action has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Electoral Legislation Amendment (Lowering the Voting Age) Bill 2023

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    08 Feb 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    STEELE-JOHN, Sen Jordon 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to: lower the minimum voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Copyright Legislation Amendment (Fair Pay for Radio Play) Bill 2023

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    03 Aug 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    POCOCK, Sen David 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Copyright Act 1968
    to remove restrictions limiting the Copyright Tribunal from: determining the amount payable to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to one per cent of the commercial broadcaster’s gross earnings; and determining the amount payable by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to an amount not exceeding 0.5 cents per head of the Australian population. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Electoral Legislation Amendment (Fairer Contracts and Grants) Bill 2023

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    04 Sep 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    WATERS, Sen Larissa 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to prohibit political donations being made by corporations or close associates of the corporation in certain circumstances. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Amendment (Consideration of UNDRIP) Bill 2023

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    29 Nov 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    THORPE, Sen Lidia 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
    to amend the definition of ‘human rights’ to include the rights and freedoms outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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Bills lists

All bills before Parliament for the current calendar year and details of their progress.

Legislative Analysis

Parliamentary Library analysis of bills, including the purpose, background and key issues.

Legislative Instruments

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.

Disallowance Alerts

Legislative instruments subject to a notice of motion to disallow. The progress and eventual outcome of any such notice is also recorded.

Tariff proposals

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

Bills referred to committees

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

Statistics on legislation

Printed bills and explanatory memoranda

Order printed versions at the Federal Register of Legislation by clicking the print icon at the document level.