Assented Bills of previous Parliaments

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TOTAL RESULTS: 4139

  • Date
    15 Aug 2024 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Prime Minister and Cabinet 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
    to add an area of land that is detailed in the Canteen Creek Area Indigenous Land Use Agreement so that the Wakaya Alyawarre Land can be granted as Aboriginal land. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Aug 2024 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Employment and Workplace Relations 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009
    to place the Construction and General Division (and its branches) of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union into administration. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    07 Feb 2024 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997
    to remove certain limiting words from section 32B (which confers power on the Commonwealth to make, vary or administer an arrangement or grant) and section 39B (which confers power on the Commonwealth to form a company, participate in the formation of a company, acquire shares in a company or become a member of a company). Also makes consequential amendments to 7 Acts and contingent amendments to 2 Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    30 Nov 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Digital ID Bill 2023, the bill makes consequential amendments to 6 Acts; and provides for transitional arrangements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    30 Nov 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Digital ID (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill: establishes an accreditation scheme for entities providing digital ID services; expands the Australian Government Digital ID System; and provides for privacy safeguards and a range of governance arrangements, including establishing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as the Digital ID Regulator and expanding the role of the Information Commissioner to regulate privacy protections for digital IDs. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    07 Nov 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021
    to provide a judge of Division 2 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) with the same protection and immunity as a judge of Division 1 of the FCFCOA; and
    Family Law Act 1975
    to make a consequential amendment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    21 Jun 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Foreign Affairs and Trade 
    Summary
    Amends the
    International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963
    to: declare an international organisation of which Australia is not a member as an international organisation; confer privileges and immunities on categories of officials not prescribed in the Act where requested by an international organisation and agreed to by Australia; and provide greater flexibility to grant certain privileges and immunities to international organisations and connected persons. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    15 Jun 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Climate Change and Energy 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012
    in relation to: registration requirements for customised greenhouse and energy minimum standards (GEMS) products; deemed compliance; exemptions from requirements of GEMS determinations; specifying product classes in GEMS determinations; requirements in GEMS determinations which have labelling requirements but do not set minimum standards for energy use; certain arrangements and references to the GEMS Regulator; grandfathering of compliant products; powers of the GEMS Regulator to extend the time to pay application fees; and clarification that one of the objects of the Act is to facilitate the operation of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Legislative Scheme. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    08 Feb 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Women 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012
    to: require the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) to publish gender pay gap information of relevant employers for each reporting period; rename the current 'minimum standards' as 'gender equality standards'; require relevant employers to provide executive summary and industry benchmark reports to all members of their governing body; include 'sexual harassment', 'harassment on the ground of sex' or 'discrimination' as gender equality indicators; change the title of the 'Director' of the WGEA to 'Chief Executive Officer'; and make a technical amendment to the definition of 'reporting period'. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    07 Feb 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Responds to the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia in
    Pearson v Minister for Home Affairs
    [2022] FCAFC 203 by amending the
    Migration Act 1958
    to provide a clear basis for aggregate sentences (that is, one sentence imposed in respect of more than one offence) to be taken into account in a consistent manner for all relevant purposes under the Act and the
    Migration Regulations 1994

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Sep 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Biosecurity Act 2015
    to: enable the minister to determine certain biosecurity measures and requirements for individuals or classes of individuals who are entering Australian territory for the purposes of preventing a disease or pest that is considered to pose an unacceptable biosecurity threat, and establish civil penalty provisions for noncompliance; expand pre-arrival reporting requirements for aircraft and vessels; strengthen penalties for non-compliance with negative pratique requirements; provide for the use and disclosure of certain information, including protected information; increase civil and criminal penalties for contraventions of certain requirements in relation to goods and conveyances; amend the process for making certain determinations specifying prohibited, conditionally non-prohibited and suspended goods or granting permits based on risk assessments; provide legislative authority for expenditure for biosecurity-related programs and activities and provide for additional annual reporting; and amend provisions relating to approved arrangements, administration, auditing and consideration of compensation claims. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Sep 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Implements Australia's obligations under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships by amending the:
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
    to: introduce controls for discharges of residues of noxious liquid substances known as 'persistent floaters' in northern European waters; and ban the use of heavy fuel oil by ships in Arctic waters;
    Protection of the Sea (Harmful Anti-fouling Systems) Act 2006
    to extend controls on ship harmful anti-fouling systems to include the chemical biocide, cybutryne; and
    Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983
    and
    Protection of the Sea (Harmful Anti-fouling Systems) Act 2006
    to make minor technical and consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    03 Aug 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health and Aged Care 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Health Insurance Act 1973
    to: broaden the remit of the Professional Services Review (PSR) to make agreements with any person under review who acknowledges inappropriate practice (including bodies corporate); and introduce new sanctions for persons who fail to respond to a notice to produce documents to the Director of the PSR or to a PSR Committee, or fail to appear at hearings;
    Health Insurance Act 1973
    ,
    National Health Act 1953
    and
    Dental Benefits Act 2008
    to provide for: the recovery of interest payable on certain debts; the application of administrative penalties to Shared Debt Recovery Scheme debts; the use of financial information gathering powers in debt recovery; Administrative Appeal Tribunal reviews where one or more garnishee notices are issued in relation to certain debts; and clarification of the Commonwealth's ability to recover debts from a person or the estate of a person. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    03 Aug 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Superannuation (Salary) Regulations
    (now renamed to the
    Superannuation (CSS) Salary Regulations 1978
    ), with effect from 1 July 1986, to provide that individuals who were provided with rent-free housing on and after 1 July 1986 will not have the value of that housing included in their default superannuation salary. Also provides for an exemption to cover certain individuals. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Jul 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Employment and Workplace Relations 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Family Law Regulations 1984
    ,
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
    to clarify that the Acts operate in the same way in relation to payments under the Self-Employment Assistance program as payments under the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme; and
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to make minor technical amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    30 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Road Vehicle Standards (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2018
    to extend the duration of the transitional period provided for by this Act from 12 to 24 months after the full commencement of the
    Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018
    on 1 July 2021. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: require registered political parties and disclosure entities to use their current registered name in authorisations for electoral communications; and allow registered political parties certain limited flexibility in how their present their names in an authorisation; and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    ,
    Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983
    ,
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    and
    Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991
    to harmonise authorisation requirements across broadcasting, electoral and referendum legislation, while retaining current authorisation requirements in relation to specified printed materials. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to allow regulations to be made to temporarily expand the existing secure telephone voting method, currently available to sight impaired persons and Australians working in Antarctica, to coronavirus affected individuals for a limited time window. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: prohibit foreign persons and entities from authorising electoral communications and from fundraising or directly incurring electoral expenditure in a financial year equal to or more than $1000; and make technical amendments; and
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to increase the penalty for the offence of misleading or deceiving an elector in relation to the casting of a vote. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Prime Minister 
    Summary
    Implements certain recommendations of the
    Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces
    by amending the:
    Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984
    (MoP(S) Act) to: require a notice of termination of employment to specify the ground or grounds that are relied on for the termination; and clarify that the
    Fair Work Act 2009
    and
    Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009
    apply to staff employed or engaged under the MoP(S) Act;
    Work Health and Safety Act 2011
    to clarify that parliamentarians are officers of the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Act; and
    Age Discrimination Act 2004
    and
    Disability Discrimination Act 1992
    to clarify that staff employed or engaged under the MoP(S) Act are Commonwealth employees for the purposes of the Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Foreign Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011
    to: specify thematic categories of conduct to which autonomous sanctions can be applied; clarify that autonomous sanctions regimes established under the regulations can be either country-specific or thematic; and specify decision-making processes for imposing targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on person and entities under thematic sanctions regimes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Crimes Act 1918
    to: repeal section 19AA which applies remissions or reductions under state or territory laws to federal sentences; and make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to extend the operation of the declared areas provisions for a further 3 years and the control order regime and the preventative detention orders (PDO) regime for a further 15 months;
    Intelligence Services Act 2001
    to provide that the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security may review the operation, effectiveness and proportionality of the declared areas provisions prior to their sunset date;
    Crimes Act 1914
    to extend the operation of the stop, search and seizure powers for a further 15 months; and
    Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010
    to extend the reporting date for the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s review of continuing detention orders for high risk terrorist offenders to as soon as practicable after 7 December 2021. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010
    to: enable the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) to report on own-motion inquiries in standalone reports; provide that the INSLM's annual report may include information relating to the performance of the INSLM's functions in relation to a referral from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; specify reporting arrangements for statutory reviews conducted by the INSLM; provide a framework for the engagement of staff (including contractors) to assist the INSLM in the performance of its functions or exercise of its powers; and provide current and former staff of the INSLM with certain legal protections during the course of assisting the INSLM with performing functions or exercising powers of the INSLM. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Implements certain recommendations of the Australian Human Rights Commission report,
    Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces
    by amending the:
    Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
    to: amend the definition of 'unlawful discrimination'; and extend the period of time between an alleged incident and the lodging of a complaint in relation to the President's discretion to terminate a complaint;
    Fair Work Act 2009
    to: provide that a worker who is sexually harassed at work may apply for a Fair Work Commission (FWC) order to stop the sexual harassment; provide that the FWC can make an order to stop sexual harassment following a single instance of sexual harassment; provide that sexual harassment in connection with an employee’s employment can be a valid reason for dismissal; and extend the minimum entitlement for compassionate leave in relation to miscarriage; and
    Sex Discrimination Act 1984
    to: prohibit discrimination involving harassment on the ground of sex; extend the application of the Act to members of parliament, members of the ACT and Northern Territory legislative assemblies and their staff, judges, staff and consultants employed under the
    Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984
    , state employees, including independent contractors; and the public authority of a state; and include definitions of 'worker' and 'persons conducting a business or undertaking' to extend the protection from sexual harassment to all paid and unpaid workers, including volunteers, interns and the self-employed. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    23 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999
    ,
    Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975
    ,
    Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988
    ,
    Paid Parental Leave Act 2010
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to standardise, across all divisions, the powers of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) to issue summonses to require persons to give evidence or produce documents;
    Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975
    in relation to: procedural fairness; alternative dispute resolution processes; constitution and reconstitution of the AAT; dismissal powers; correction of errors; appointments, authorisations and assignments; taxation of costs; and protection and immunity of reviewers in the Immigration Assessment Authority;
    Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988
    in relation to applications for review of child support decisions;
    Admiralty Act 1988
    to align the Admiralty Rules with the rules of federal courts;
    Foreign Judgments Act 1991
    ,
    Foreign States Immunities Act 1985
    and
    International Arbitration Act 1974
    to provide certain procedural protections to foreign States;
    Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975
    ,
    Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
    ,
    Judiciary Act 1903
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to make minor and technical amendments;
    Family Law Act 1975
    ,
    Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021
    ,
    Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
    and
    Judiciary Act 1903
    to clarify that hearings conducted remotely using videoconferencing technology are exercised in 'open court';
    Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
    to allow for short form reasons in the court's appellate jurisdiction in civil proceedings; and
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
    to make consequential and technical amendments. Also repeals the
    Nauru (High Court Appeals) Act 1976

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Sport 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014
    to: prevent the unauthorised commercial use of certain indicia and images associated with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup Australia New Zealand 2023 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022; and remove the Schedule relating to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games; and
    Sport Integrity Australia Act 2020
    to correct an erroneous reference to an article of the World Anti-Doping Code in the definition of 'ineligibility'. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health and Aged Care 
    Summary
    Amends the
    National Health Act 1953
    to provide that the legislative instrument establishing the Continence Aids Payment Scheme may provide that applications may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of decisions made under the instrument. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    18 Mar 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Prime Minister 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Freedom of Information Act 1982
    to exclude a right of access to documents provided to, or created by, the Independent Review into the workplaces of Parliamentarians and their staff conducted under the
    Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
    by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner; and
    Archives Act 1983
    to provide that these documents would not come into the open access period until 99 years after the year the documents came into existence. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    18 Mar 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture, Water and the Environment 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Biosecurity Act 2015
    to clarify the validity of certain determinations that specify that certain classes of goods are conditionally non-prohibited goods which must not be brought or imported into Australian territory unless they are covered by an import permit or unless alternative conditions specified in the determination are complied with. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Mar 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Royal Commissions Act 1902
    to: apply limitations on the use and disclosure of certain information provided by individuals to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability outside of a private session, where the commission indicated that it would be treated as confidential; enable certain members of a Royal Commission to make non-publication directions; and enable a Commonwealth Royal Commission, during the course of inquiring into a matter, to communicate information and evidence to a Royal Commission, or commission of inquiry, of a state or territory; and
    Freedom of Information Act 1982
    to exempt certain information given to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability from the operation of the Act. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Feb 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Special Recreational Vessels Act 2019
    to extend the operation of the Act from 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2023. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Feb 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industrial Relations 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Work Health and Safety Act 2011
    to clarify the operation of the Act in relation to the Commonwealth's undertakings on Norfolk Island. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science and Technology 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Industry Research and Development Act 1986
    to rename Industry and Innovation Australia to Industry Innovation and Science Australia; and
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    ,
    Pooled Development Funds Act 1992
    ,
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    and
    Venture Capital Act 2002
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Designs Act 2003
    to: implement recommendations of the former Advisory Council on Intellectual Property review of the designs system by: providing designers a 12-month grace period to apply for design protection after publishing or using their design to protect designers from losing their rights through inadvertent disclosure; introducing an infringement exemption for prior use; streamlining the initial steps for registering a design; correcting an anomaly to the innocent infringer defence where infringement occurs between filing and registration; providing exclusive licensees with legal standing to take infringement action through the courts; and extending the power of the Registrar of Designs to make directions about the forms of documents to 'approved forms' for designs; and make minor technical amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral 1918
    to change the method for determining the number of House of Representatives members for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Nov 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    and
    VET Student Loans Act 2016
    to: phase out the Commonwealth's obligation to pay VET FEE-HELP (VFH) to VET providers in respect of old student data, and prevent those providers from pursuing students for the amounts the Commonwealth does not pay; enable the Commonwealth to set off debts owed by providers to the Commonwealth under the VFH scheme against amounts of FEE-HELP assistance or VET student loans payable to the provider; and revoke the approval of remaining VET providers, while providing for the continuing operation of the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    and relevant legislative instruments to enable the Commonwealth to deal with and resolve outstanding matters under the VFH scheme. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Sep 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
    to increase the maximum number of allowable members from four to six in self managed superannuation funds and small APRA funds; and
    Corporations Act 2001
    ,
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    ,
    Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
    and
    Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Aug 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Family Law Act 1975
    to provide that: family risk screening information is confidential and cannot be disclosed except in limited circumstances; family safety risk information is inadmissible in court, except in limited circumstances; and court workers (such as registrars and family counsellors) have immunity when involved in family risk screening procedures. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Aug 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Youth and Sport 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Sports Integrity Australia Act 2020
    to implement revisions to the World Anti-Doping Code by: introducing a new category of person (non-participant) who may be subject to the National Anti-Doping Scheme; broadening the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sport Integrity Australia to not publish details of violations committed by athletes who compete for recreational purposes, or if the CEO believes an athlete does not have the mental capacity to understand the anti-doping rules; broadening the situations where the CEO may respond to public comment on unfinalised matters; and amending the definition of athlete to include persons who competed in sport within the last six months; and
    National Sports Tribunal Act 2019
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Jun 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to enable regulations to prescribe processes which will be deemed to satisfy the definition of 'substantially transformed' for the purposes of the country of origin provisions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Jun 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: clarify the interaction between federal, state and territory electoral funding and disclosure regimes following the High Court decision in
    Spence v Queensland
    [2019] HCA 15; make technical amendments in relation to entity registration and public election funding rules; and allow a senior Australian Electoral Commission staff member rather than a senior Divisional Returning Officer to be on the Redistribution Committee for the Australian Capital Territory;
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to amend various aspects of voting and scrutiny processes; and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to extend the electronically assisted voting method to Australians working in Antarctica. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011
    in relation to: registration requirements, conditions and decision timings relating to National VET Regulator (NVR) registered training organisations (NVR RTOs); notification requirements for NVR RTOs in relation to changes to the operation of an NVR RTO or events likely to significantly affect an NVR RTO's ability to comply with the VET Quality Framework; reviewable decisions made by the delegate of the NVR; compliance standards and conditions for accredited courses; preparation and publication of audit reports by the NVR; electronic sharing and publication of information authorised by the NVR; information that the NVR is required to enter on the National Register; the NVR's powers to request documents in electronic form, use of enforceable undertakings and to allow for regulatory decisions to be stayed while under reconsideration; cancellation of VET qualifications and statements of attainment; the minister’s powers to issue directions to, and determine certain fees charged by, the NVR; certain offence provisions relating to the delivery of a VET course; processes for the appointment of acting Commissioners, the Deputy Chief Commissioner and the Chief Commissioner of the NVR; and the NVR's annual operational and corporate plans; and to make a number of technical amendments; and
    National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Transitional Provisions) Act 2011
    to provide for transitional arrangements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aviation Transport Security Act 2004
    to: introduce powers for aviation security inspectors to conduct covert compliance testing of aviation industry participants' aviation security systems at all regulated locations; provide certain exemptions for aviation security inspectors from civil or criminal liability when they are covertly testing aviation industry participants' aviation security systems; and
    Aviation Transport Security Act 2004
    and
    Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003
    to: require screening officers to have completed relevant training and to hold relevant qualifications prior to exercising powers or performing screening functions; allow for the making of legislative instruments to determine training, qualifications and other requirements for specified screening officers in the exercise of powers or performance of screening functions, and requirements relating to the use of identity cards and uniforms; and make technical amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Biosecurity Act 2015
    and
    Imported Food Control Act 1992
    to enable computerised decision-making for certain purposes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Wine Australia Act 2013
    to provide for Wine Australia to establish and maintain a directory of labels that are attached to grape products such as wine intended for export from Australia. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Oct 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Act 2006
    ,
    Aged Care (Accommodation Payment Security) Levy Act 2006
    ,
    Aged Care Act 1997
    and six other Acts to: transfer certain aged care regulatory functions and powers from the Secretary of the Department of Health to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner in relation to the approval, monitoring and enforcement of regulatory compliance of providers of aged care; and provide for the reconsideration and review of decisions in relation to the new functions of the commissioner. Also provides for transitional arrangements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    19 Sep 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Veterans’ Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Defence Service Homes Act 1918
    to expand eligibility for the Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme to current and former members of the Australian Defence Force who have at least one day of continuous full-time service, including reservists and peacekeepers. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Sep 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development 
    Summary
    Repeals the
    ANL Act 1956
    and
    ANL Guarantee Act 1994
    to: remove restrictions on the use of ‘protected names’ relating to the former Commonwealth-owned shipping line ANL Limited; and remove outdated and unnecessary legislation. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    01 Aug 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Crimes Act 1914
    to: expand the existing presumption against bail and parole for persons charged or convicted of a terrorism offence to include persons being considered for bail for a further federal offence, persons the subject of a control order and persons who have demonstrated support for, or have links to, terrorist activity; and make it explicit that the best interests of a child must be considered as a primary consideration by the relevant decision maker at the key points in the criminal justice processes of bail, sentencing and parole; and
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to: expand eligibility for the continuing detention order (CDO) scheme by ensuring that terrorist offenders who are currently serving a period of imprisonment for a terrorism offence and another offence remain eligible for consideration for a CDO at the conclusion of their term of imprisonment; and amend the information disclosure obligations in relation to sensitive national security information in CDO applications. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    31 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture 
    Summary
    Establishes an independent Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports to oversee the Department of Agriculture in its role as the regulator of Australia’s live-stock exports. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Innovation and Science 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Patents Act 1990
    to: introduce an objects clause; phase out the innovation patent system; replace the 'reasonable requirements of the public' test in relation to applications for a compulsory licence with a public interest test; provide that only the patentee of a dependent patent can seek a compulsory licence over the use of the original patent; provide for 'omnibus claims' in patent specifications to be removed at stages of consideration subsequent to examination; clarify the Commissioner of Patents' power to redact sensitive information from patent documents; remove the requirement to file a certificate of verification for documents translated into English, unless required by the regulations; clarify that Crown use can be invoked for the provision of a service that any Commonwealth, state or territory government has the primary responsibility for providing or funding; require governments to seek negotiated outcomes with patent owners before invoking Crown use; and require ministerial authorisation for invoking Crown use if a negotiated outcome is unsuccessful or in emergency situations;
    Designs Act 2003
    to modify provisions relating to Crown use consistently with the changes to the
    Patents Act 1990
    ; and
    Patents Act 1990
    and
    Trade Marks Act 1995
    to enable the Patent Office and Trade Mark Office to keep and use their official seal in electronic form when supplying electronic certified copies of documents to customers. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    National Disability Insurance Scheme 
    Summary
    Amends the
    National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013
    to: introduce new requirements for appointments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency and the Independent Advisory Council; establish a 28-day requirement for consultations with host jurisdictions for certain matters that require consultation (with the ability for host jurisdictions to seek an extension for up to 90 days); and re-categorise certain National Disability Insurance Scheme rules. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
    to implement certain recommendations of the
    Review of the impact of the TEQSA Act on the higher education sector
    by: removing references to specific categories of non-threshold standards; removing unnecessary references to 'the Research Minister' and requiring that advice on new standards need only be sought from that minister in certain circumstances; requiring TEQSA to advise the minister and the Higher Education Standards Panel (the panel) before it undertakes a quality review that could have certain impacts; providing that overseas universities can offer a course of study not wholly or mainly provided from Australian premises, and use the word 'university' to represent its operations, without committing an offence; providing that a quorum for TEQSA meetings is a majority of commissioners; expanding the skill set that the minister must ensure is encompassed by the panel members; expanding the functions of the panel; providing a consent-based exception to the offence of unauthorised disclosure or use of information; allowing TEQSA to disclose certain higher education and personal information to the minister, the secretary and relevant officers; and allowing TEQSA to disclose information for research purposes and to a complainant in relation to a complaint without the consent of the body to which the information applies. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Veterans’ Affairs 
    Summary
    The bill: provides a general recognition of veterans and their families; sets out the Australian Defence Force Covenant; provides statements that veterans’ affairs portfolio legislation will be interpreted with a beneficial intention and that the Commonwealth is committed to working cooperatively with veterans, their families and ex-service organisations to address issues facing veterans; and provides that the Commonwealth may issue pins, cards and other artefacts to veterans and their family members. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Civil Aviation Act 1988
    to require the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, in developing and promulgating aviation safety standards, to take into consideration the impacts of costs and the relative risk environment of the different aviation industry sectors. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Health Insurance Act 1973
    to introduce a statutory scheme (the Bonded Medical Program) which consolidates the existing Bonded Medical Places and Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship schemes under a single legislative framework. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    National Disability Insurance Scheme 
    Summary
    Amends the
    National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013
    to establish a database for nationally consistent worker screening for people who provide NDIS supports and services through a registered NDIS provider. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Families and Social Services 
    Summary
    Amends the
    National Rental Affordability Scheme Act 2008
    to: expand and clarify the object of the National Rental Affordability Scheme; expressly identify the constitutional powers being relied upon and giving the Act operation within the scope of those constitutional powers; and expand and clarify the power to make regulations under the Act. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018
    and
    Road Vehicle Standards (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2018
    to postpone the commencement of the substantive provisions of these Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    03 Apr 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to: introduce new offences that will apply to providers of internet, hosting or content services who fail to refer details of abhorrent violent material that records or streams conduct that has occurred, or is occurring, in Australia to the Australian Federal Police within a reasonable time after becoming aware of the existence of such material, or who fail to remove from, or cease hosting, on their services abhorrent violent material that is capable of being accessed within Australia; and enable the eSafety Commissioner to issue a written notice to a provider of a hosting or content service notifying them that abhorrent violent material can be accessed by, or is hosted on, their service. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 Feb 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Implements certain recommendations of the
    Report on Reforms for Cooperatives, Mutuals and Member-owned Firms
    (the Hammond report) by amending the:
    Corporations Act 2001
    to: introduce a definition of 'mutual entity'; clarify for transferring financial institutions and friendly societies that the demutualisation provisions apply only if an entity no longer meets the new definition of a mutual entity; provide for mutual capital instruments as a new bespoke capital instrument for mutual entities; and provide for eligible mutual entities to amend their constitutions by a standardised process to take advantage of the new arrangements; and
    Financial Sector (Shareholdings) Act 1998
    ,
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
    ,
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    and
    Insurance Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1991
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 Feb 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture and Water Resources 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Wine Australia Act 2013
    to ensure that the United Kingdom (UK) continues to be treated as an 'agreement country' for the purposes of the Act, during a transition period for the UK's exit from the European Union, as specified in the
    Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    05 Dec 2018 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Indigenous Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
    to enable an area of land that is detailed in the Ammaroo Indigenous Land Use Agreement, National Native Title Tribunal Number DI2014/003 (Ammaroo Land), to be granted as Aboriginal land. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    05 Dec 2018 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014
    to: provide protection against ambush marketing by association for the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup 2020; and remove historical schedules related to the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup 2015 and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Jun 2018 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011
    to require national broadband network corporations to provide emergency service organisations with access in certain circumstances to towers and associated sites and facilities; and
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    to enable the Minister for Communications to specify temporary towers as low-impact facilities in certain circumstances. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    07 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: establish public registers for key non-party political actors; require non-financial particulars, such as senior staff and discretionary government benefits, to be reported; prohibit donations from foreign governments and state-owned enterprises being used to finance public debate; require wholly political actors to verify that donations over $250 come from an organisation incorporated in Australia, or with its head office or principal place of activity in Australia, or an Australian citizen or Commonwealth elector; prohibit other regulated political actors from using donations from foreign sources to fund reportable political expenditure; limit public election funding to demonstrated electoral spending; amend the enforcement and compliance regime for political finance regulation; and enable the Electoral Commissioner to prescribe certain matters by legislative instrument; and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    07 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Security of Critical Infrastructure Bill 2017 to provide for the management of the national security risks of espionage, sabotage and coercion arising from foreign involvement in Australia’s critical infrastructure, the bill makes consequential amendments to the
    Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979
    and
    Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    07 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Security of Critical Infrastructure (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2017, the bill provides for the management of the national security risks of espionage, sabotage and coercion arising from foreign involvement in Australia’s critical infrastructure by: establishing a Register of Critical Infrastructure Assets; providing the minister with a power to direct a reporting entity or operator of a critical infrastructure asset to do, or refrain from doing, an act or thing within a specified period of time; empowering the secretary to request certain information from reporting entities and operators of critical infrastructure assets; and providing that the minister can privately declare an asset to be a critical infrastructure asset in certain circumstances. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    07 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Corporations Act 2001
    to consolidate and broaden the existing protections and remedies for corporate and financial sector whistleblowers;
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to create a whistleblower protection regime for disclosures of information by individuals regarding breaches of the tax laws or misconduct relating to an entity’s tax affairs; and
    Banking Act 1959
    ,
    Insurance Act 1973
    ,
    Life Insurance Act 1995
    and
    Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Indigenous Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
    to: enable certain Kakadu and Urapunga land to be granted as Aboriginal land; and provide for the leaseback of the Kakadu land to the Director of National Parks. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Local Government and Territories 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988
    to: establish the National Capital Authority (NCA) as the accountable authority for the purposes of the
    Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
    ; empower the NCA to provide the Chief Executive of the NCA with specific directions in relation to its operations; and make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to remove the requirement for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to provide written notice of its intention to declare a digital radio start-up day for a licence area; and
    Radiocommunications Act 1992
    to: remove requirements that the ACMA must consult before preparing or varying a digital radio channel plan; shorten timeframes associated with the formation of eligible joint venture and digital community radio broadcasting representative companies, and clarify the invitation and acceptance process for the formation of such companies; shorten timeframes associated with issuing a foundation digital radio multiplex transmitter licence (DRMT) in accordance with a price-based allocation system and DRMAT licensees giving the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission access undertakings; and clarify how excess multiplex capacity on foundation DRMT licences is determined. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: establish a Register of Foreign Ownership of Media Assets to be administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA); provide for new assessment criterion for the applications for, and renewals of, community radio broadcasting licences relating to material of local significance; and make consequential amendments; and
    Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005
    to enable the ACMA to delegate the power to issues certain notices. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to make online content service provider rules which impose gambling promotions restrictions on online content service providers; and provide the ACMA with the power to determine program standards about gambling promotional content which apply to certain broadcasters and subscriptions providers;
    Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005
    to: require the ACMA to monitor compliance with online content service provider rules; and enable the ACMA to delegate the power to issues certain notices; and
    Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to make a grant of financial assistance to a publisher of a newspaper, magazine or other periodical, or a content service provider; provide that the ACMA may only make a grant of financial assistance in the three financial years commencing on 1 July 2018, with the total amount of financial assistance not exceeding $50 100 000; require the ACMA to enter into an agreement with the recipient setting out the terms and conditions of the grant; enable the minister to establish an advisory committee to advise the ACMA in relation to the exercise of its powers to make grants of financial assistance; and provide for annual reporting requirements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Copyright Act 1968
    to extend the operation of the safe harbour scheme to a broader range of service providers, including educational institutions, libraries, archives, key cultural institutions and organisations assisting persons with a disability. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015
    to: prohibit the posting of, or threatening to post, an intimate image without consent on a social media service, relevant electronic service or a designated internet service; establish a complaints and objections system to be administered by the eSafety Commissioner; provide the commissioner with powers to issue removal notices or remedial directions; establish a civil penalty regime to be administered by the commissioner; and enable the commissioner to seek a civil penalty order from a relevant court, issue an infringement notice, obtain an injunction or enforce an undertaking, or issue a formal warning for contraventions of the civil penalty provisions; and
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to make a consequential amendment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Family Law Act 1975
    to: provide for courts to be prescribed in regulations as having the same family law parenting jurisdiction as state and territory courts of summary jurisdiction; provide for regulations to prescribe an increased total property value under which relevant courts can hear contested family law property matters without the parties’ consent; provide that a court may give short-form reasons for decisions relating to interim parenting orders; provide family law courts with an explicit power to dismiss unmeritorious applications; provide judges the discretion to dispense with requirements to explain an order or injunction to a child where it would be in the best interests of the child; remove the 21 day time limit on the revival, variation or suspension of family law orders by state and territory courts in family violence order proceedings; provide that a breach of a family law injunction for personal protection is a criminal offence; remove self-induced intoxication as a defence against charges relating to family violence; provide that criminal responsibility does not extend to the person protected by an injunction for personal protection if their conduct results in a breach of the injunction; provide for state and territory courts to revive, vary or suspend an injunction for personal protection when hearing a proceeding for a breach of that injunction; and repeal a redundant provision that permits a court to make an order relieving a party to a marriage from an obligation to perform marital services or render conjugal rights; and
    Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
    to make a consequential amendment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Dec 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Environment and Energy 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
    to: replace the existing full-time Chairperson of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority position with a part-time Chairperson and full-time Chief Executive Officer; establish an additional part-time member position; specify the skills required for the appointment of members; limit the number of consecutive terms able to be served by an individual member; provide for termination of members by the Governor-General for underperformance; require that any other paid work undertaken by a part-time member does not conflict with the proper performance of their duties as a member of the authority; and make a minor technical amendment; and
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    15 Nov 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Sponsor
    SMITH, Sen Dean 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: redefine marriage as ‘a union of two people’; introduce non-gendered language so that the requirements of the Act apply equally to all marriages; enable same-sex marriages that have been, or will be, solemnised under the law of a foreign country to be recognised in Australia; amend the definition of ‘authorised celebrant’ to include new categories of religious marriage celebrants and certain Australian Defence Force officers; enable ministers of religion, religious marriage celebrants, chaplains and bodies established for religious purposes to refuse to solemnise or provide facilities, goods and services for marriages on religious grounds; and make amendments contingent on the commencement of the proposed
    Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2017
    ; and
    Sex Discrimination Act 1984
    to provide that a refusal by a minister of religion, religious marriage celebrant or chaplain to solemnise marriage in prescribed circumstances does not constitute unlawful discrimination. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Sep 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Superannuation Laws Amendment (Strengthening Trustee Arrangements) Bill 2017, the bill amends the:
    Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
    to: require trustees to assess on an annual basis whether the outcomes that are being delivered by MySuper products are promoting the financial interests of MySuper members; allow the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to refuse, or cancel, an authority to offer a MySuper product if it has a reason to believe the registrable superannuation entity (RSE) licensee may fail to comply with its obligations; impose civil and criminal penalties on directors of RSE licensees who fail to execute their responsibilities to act in the best interests of members, or who use their position to further their own interests to the detriment of members; enable APRA to refuse authority for a change in ownership or control where it has concerns about the person seeking ownership or control, give a direction to a person to relinquish control of a RSE licensee and remove or suspend an RSE licensee where it is subject to the control of its owner; align APRA’s directions powers in relation to the superannuation industry with its broader directions powers in the banking and insurance industries; and require RSE licensees to hold annual members’ meetings;
    Corporations Act 2001
    and
    Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
    to require superannuation funds to disclose on a semi-annual basis investments that they hold directly or through associated entities and initial investments into non-associated entities;
    Financial Sector (Collection of Data) Act 2001
    to provide APRA with the ability to obtain information on expenses incurred by RSE and RSE licensees in managing or operating the RSE; and
    Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Sep 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends: the
    Corporations Act 2001
    and 12 other Acts to introduce a new external dispute resolution scheme, known as the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), to resolve disputes about products and services provided by financial firms; and five Acts to: require firms that must participate in the enhanced internal dispute resolution (IDR) framework to report their IDR activities to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in accordance with ASIC requirements; provide ASIC with additional powers to determine the content and form of IDR reporting by IDR Firms and to publish this data at both the aggregate and firm level; and allow ASIC to specify, by legislative instrument, requirements for trustees and retirement savings account providers to provide written reasons for decisions in relation to complaints. Also repeals the
    Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993
    and makes consequential amendments to 11 Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 Sep 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Implements measures relating to public communications in the conduct of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, including: requiring authorisations on all forms of communication of marriage law survey matter and providing the Electoral Commissioner with related information-gathering powers; imposing obligations on broadcasters to give reasonable opportunities for broadcasting opposing views; providing for offences for bribery and threats and civil penalties in relation to vilification, interference, discrimination and misleading or deceptive publications; providing for injunctive relief in relation to the statistics collection process and related activities; and enabling the Electoral Commissioner to make rules prescribing certain matters. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    05 Sep 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture and Water Resources 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013
    to: enable the Australian Grape and Wine Authority to implement, facilitate and administer programs for cider and in relation to international wine tourism, and to administer grant programs for wine; change the authority’s name to Wine Australia; and amend the short title of the Act to the
    Wine Australia Act 2013
    ; and
    Freedom of Information Act 1982
    ,
    Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999
    ,
    Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999
    and
    Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    20 Jun 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Innovation and Science 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987
    to provide greater flexibility to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation in its activities, including the use of its property, facilities and resources for science, technology, innovation and training purposes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    22 Mar 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Acts Interpretation Act 1901
    and
    Legislation Act 2003
    to clarify the validity of ministerial acts and the operation of provisions about the management of compilations prepared for the Federal Register of Legislation;
    Archives Act 1983
    to: provide the National Archives of Australia with tools to manage high-volume applicants requesting access to records; and make other minor technical amendments;
    Bankruptcy Act 1966
    to clarify that the Family Court of Australia has bankruptcy jurisdiction when a trustee applies to have a financial agreement set aside under the
    Family Law Act 1975
    ;
    Domicile Act 1982
    to provide that it applies to territories currently specified in the Domicile Regulations 1982;
    Evidence Act 1995
    to amend the presumption about when postal articles sent by prepaid post are received;
    Family Law Act 1975
    to: introduce new offences relating to international parental child abduction and to allow a person to request a location order for the purposes of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; clarify who may perform the powers of the registry managers; align financial and other provisions for de facto and married couples; make various amendments relating to the operation of the family law courts; and make minor and technical amendments;
    International Arbitration Act 1974
    to: specify the meaning of ‘competent court’ for the purpose of the Model Law; clarify procedural requirements for enforcement of an arbitral award; modernise provisions governing certain arbitrators’ powers; and clarify the application of certain confidentiality provisions;
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: remove outdated concepts and ensure consistency with the
    Family Law Act 1975
    in relation to parental consent for the marriage of minors; and make minor and technical amendments; and
    Sex Discrimination Act 1984
    to remove the exemption for discrimination against women employed, engaged or appointed in Australian Defence Force positions involving combat duties. Also makes consequential amendments to nine Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    22 Mar 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Racial Discrimination Act 1975
    to: amend section 18C, which prohibits offensive behaviour based on racial hatred, to replace the words ‘offend’, ‘insult’ and ‘humiliate’ with ‘harass’ (resulting in the formulation ‘harass or intimidate’); and provide that an assessment of whether an act is reasonably likely to harass or intimidate a person or group of persons is made against the standard of a reasonable member of the Australian community;
    Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
    to: replace the defined term of ‘alleged unlawful discrimination’ with ‘alleged acts, omissions or practices’; repeal the requirement for the President and commissioners to act in a way that promotes the collegiate nature of the Australian Human Rights Commission; provide that certain powers to report to the minister must be exercised by the President; expressly provide that the President is responsible for managing the administrative affairs, and is the accountable authority, of the commission; remove mandatory requirements to report to the minister on certain matters and replace them with discretionary reporting powers; provide that the President cannot delegate certain powers; introduce new grounds on which the commission or the President may or must close inquiries or terminate complaints; require the commission to act fairly in the performance of its inquiry functions; increase the threshold for lodging complaints; require the President to consider whether a complaint should be terminated on certain grounds before starting to inquire into the complaint; require the President to act fairly in his or her handling of complaints; allow the President to terminate complaints lodged more than six months after the alleged unlawful discrimination; require the inclusion of a note about the costs jurisdiction of the Federal Court (FC) and the Federal Circuit Court (FCC) in a notice of termination; prescribe procedures for voluntary conciliation conferences; and provide that applications may be made to the FC or FCC in relation to complaints terminated on certain grounds; and
    Native Title Act 1993
    to replace the mandatory requirement for the Social Justice Commissioner to provide an annual report to the minister with a discretion to report when he or she sees fit. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    22 Mar 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Social Security Act 1991
    to: pause for three years the indexation of various income thresholds that apply to certain social security benefits and allowances and the income test free area for parenting payment single; extend the ordinary waiting period to youth allowance (other) and parenting payment; include additional evidentiary requirements for the ‘severe financial hardship’ exemption from the ordinary waiting period; and remove the ability for claimants to serve the ordinary waiting period concurrently with other waiting periods;
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to enable automation of the regular income stream review process; and
    A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999
    to maintain the standard family tax benefit (FTB) child rates for two years, from 1 July 2017, in the maximum and base rate of FTB Part A and the maximum rate of FTB Part B. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    08 Feb 2017 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture and Water Resources 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Fisheries Administration Act 1991
    to: provide that the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) must have regard to the objective of ensuring that the interests of commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishers are taken into account in the performance of its functions; provide an additional eligibility criteria for AFMA commissioners of expertise in matters relating to recreational or Indigenous fishing; provide restrictions on the appointment of commissioners who hold an executive position in a fishing representative organisation; increase the maximum size of management advisory committees from seven to ten (in addition to the Chair and the AFMA staff member); and require AFMA to try as far as practical to have memberships of commercial and recreational fishers on management advisory committees; and
    Fisheries Management Act 1991
    to provide that the minister, AFMA and Joint Authorities established under the Act must have regard to ensuring that the interests of commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishers are taken into account in the performance of their functions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Nov 2016 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    ,
    Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
    ,
    Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977
    and
    Australian Security Intelligence Organisations Act 1979
    to establish a regulatory framework to manage national security risks of espionage, sabotage and foreign interference to Australia’s telecommunications networks and facilities. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Oct 2016 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends: 15 Acts to remove current provisions providing for regulatory regimes and to apply the standard provisions of the
    Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014
    ; and the
    Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014
    in relation to: the ability to secure evidence of a contravention when exercising monitoring powers; the age of photographs for identity cards; the time period for the making of a civil penalty order; and the cap on the amount to be stated in an infringement notice. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    15 Sep 2016 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to: enable the receipt of funds from terrorist organisations for legal assistance in certain circumstances; enable control orders to be imposed on persons from 14 years of age; impose an obligation on a person subject to a requirement to wear a tracking device to maintain the tracking device in good operational order and create offences for interfering with the operation of a tracking device; authorise the Australian Federal Police to ensure that the tracking device remains operational and to enter premises to install equipment necessary for the operation of the tracking device; remove the authority of the Family Court of Australia to issue control orders and preventative detention orders (PDOs); clarify the meaning of ‘imminence’ for the purposes of obtaining a PDO; and create a new offence prohibiting conduct advocating genocide;
    Crimes Act 1914
    ,
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    ,
    Surveillance Devices Act 2004
    and
    Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
    to establish regimes to monitor the compliance of individuals subject to a control order through search warrants, surveillance device warrants and telecommunications interception warrants;
    Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979
    to enable the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to furnish security assessments directly to states and territories; and provide that unauthorised disclosures of information by members of the community, except those who are entrusted persons, only constitute an offence if the information endangers the health or safety of a person or prejudices the effective conduct of a special intelligence operation;
    Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995
    to broaden the range of conduct that may be considered as advocating the doing of a terrorist act;
    Crimes Act 1914
    to clarify the threshold requirements for the issue of a delayed notification search warrant;
    National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004
    to: broaden protections for national security information in control order proceedings; provide for a special advocate to represent the interests of people subject to control order proceedings who have been excluded from parts of a proceeding; enable a court to make an order that is inconsistent with regulations made under the Act if the Attorney-General has applied for the order; and enable the regulations to continue to apply to the extent they provide for ways of dealing with national security information in criminal and civil proceedings;
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to enable the disclosure of certain information; and
    Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975
    and
    Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    15 Sep 2016 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to establish a scheme for the continuing detention of high risk terrorist offenders who are considered by a judge in civil proceedings to present an unacceptable risk to the community at the conclusion of their custodial sentence; and the proposed
    Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2016
    ,
    Surveillance Devices Act 2004
    and
    Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    15 Sep 2016 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture and Water Resources 
    Summary
    Amends the Basin Plan 2012 to provide for a second notification of sustainable diversion limit adjustment measures by 30 June 2017 to enable basin jurisdictions to develop and notify new projects to augment the first package of measures notified on 5 May 2016 by the Basin Officials Committee to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2015 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
    ,
    Family Law Act 1975
    and
    Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
    to: designate the Federal Court of Australia (including the National Native Title Tribunal), the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia as a single administrative entity under the
    Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
    and a single statutory agency under the
    Public Service Act 1999
    ; establish shared corporate services functions for the courts; maintain the responsibility of the heads of jurisdictions in relation to the business and administrative affairs of their respective courts; provide for a chief executive officer (CEO) for each head of jurisdiction to assist with the management of administrative affairs and provide that the CEOs also hold the position of Principal Registrar; provide for the Federal Court CEO to have responsibility for managing the shared corporate services, with a requirement for consultation; and provide that the Federal Court CEO is the accountable authority for the administrative entity and the agency head for the statutory agency. Also makes consequential amendments to 16 Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    15 Oct 2015 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General and Senator Xenophon 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to extend the retrospective operation of the offences of murder and manslaughter of an Australian citizen or resident of Australia to crimes that occurred before 1 October 2002. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Oct 2015 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Defence 
    Summary
    Implements recommendations of the First Principles Review of Defence by: amending the
    Defence Act 1903
    to: give full command of the Australian Defence Force to the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF); and consolidate the statutory treatment of the components of the Defence Force Cadets; amending 27 Acts to make consequential amendments; and repealing the
    Air Force Act 1923
    and
    Naval Defence Act 1910
    and incorporating relevant provisions of these Acts into the
    Defence Act 1903

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 Aug 2015 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Aged Care Act 1997
    to: transfer responsibility for the management and resolution of aged care complaints from the Secretary of the Department of Social Services to the Aged Care Commissioner; rename the Aged Care Commissioner to the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner; and make consequential amendments; and
    Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Act 2013
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Jun 2015 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends: the
    Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975
    in relation to: notification of applications for review; non-disclosure of certain information; the method of giving documents or things for the purposes of proceedings; tribunal members’ powers to dismiss certain applications; and the reinstatement of withdrawn applications; the
    Bankruptcy Act 1996
    in relation to: confidentiality requirements relating to statements of affairs; removal of certain requirements to notify, and lodge requests with, the Official Receiver; imposition of time limits for certain applications; and removal of an obsolete reference; the
    Evidence Act 1995
    to make a drafting change; the
    Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999
    to: provide arresters with the power to use reasonable force to enter premises to execute an arrest warrant; and remove an obsolete reference; the
    Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
    in relation to: the jury empanelment process; the pre-trial process for indictable offences; and technical amendments; the
    International Arbitration Act 1974
    in relation to: enforcement of foreign arbitral awards; confidentiality provisions to arbitral proceedings; and technical amendments; and 10 Acts to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum