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.

Keyword(s)
Status
Current Bills
Previous Bills
Type

TOTAL RESULTS: 94

  • Date
    27 Nov 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Before House of Representatives 
    Portfolio
    Prime Minister and Cabinet 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025, the bill establishes an independent Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission to monitor, inquire into and report on matters relating to suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for veterans, including the Commonwealth’s implementation of the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Jun 2024 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    ANTIC, Sen Alex
    BABET, Sen Ralph
    CANAVAN, Sen Matthew
    HANSON, Sen Pauline
    RENNICK, Sen Gerard
    ROBERTS, Sen Malcolm 
    Summary
    Repeals the
    Digital ID Act 2024
    and
    Digital ID (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2024
    . Also makes consequential amendments to 6 Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Jul 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Before House of Representatives 
    Sponsor
    STEGGALL, Zali, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to prohibit the authorisation of certain electoral and referendum matter that is inaccurate and misleading to a material extent, including material that has been modified using digital technology, such as ‘deepfakes’; and require electoral and referendum matter that has been created or modified using digital technology (including AI) to carry a statement to that effect;
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to establish an Electoral Communications Panel; and
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    and
    Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991
    to remove the ‘media blackout’ period that prohibits electoral or referendum advertising in the last 3 days of voting in an election or referendum. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    30 Jul 2025 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    POCOCK, Sen David 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to prohibit the authorisation of certain electoral and referendum matter that is inaccurate and misleading to a material extent, including material that has been modified using digital technology, such as ‘deepfakes’; and require electoral and referendum matter that has been created or modified using digital technology (including AI) to carry a statement to that effect;
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to establish an Electoral Communications Panel; and
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    and
    Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991
    to remove the ‘media blackout’ period that prohibits electoral or referendum advertising in the last 3 days of voting in an election or referendum. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    20 Nov 2024 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    POCOCK, Sen David 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: increase the number of senators from the Australia Capital Territory and the Northern Territory to half the number of senators for a state; and provide for 3 senators from each of the territories to be elected at each federal election giving territory senators a 6 year term. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • 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

  • 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

  • Date
    29 Oct 2025 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    HUME, Sen Jane 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998
    to remove the moratorium on nuclear energy in Australia;
    Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011
    to enable the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to exercise its functions in relation to ‘clean emissions energy technologies’, which includes civil nuclear energy and nuclear technologies; and
    Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act 2012
    to remove the prohibition on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation's ability to invest in nuclear technology or nuclear power. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Feb 2026 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    CANAVAN, Sen Matthew 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • 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

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.