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: 84

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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 Bill 2025, the bill amends the
    Archives Act 1983
    ,
    Defence Act 1903
    and
    Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986
    to make consequential amendments; and provides for application, saving and transitional provisions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • 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
    27 Nov 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Before House of Representatives 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999
    to establish a regulatory framework for a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation to ensure that baseline mobile coverage is reasonably available outdoors to all people in Australia on an equitable basis; and
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    and
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Nov 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Before House of Representatives 
    Portfolio
    Veterans’ Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
    ,
    Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004
    and
    Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
    to make technical amendments prior to the commencement of the
    Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

Bills lists

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

Bills Digests

Summaries of bills, their purpose, background and financial implications.

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.

Legislative Analysis

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

Bills currently referred to Senate committees

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

Bills currently referred to House committees (PDF 313KB)

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

Double dissolution triggers

Bills that could trigger a double dissolution.

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.