ABBREVIATIONS — parties and committees
| AG | Australian Greens | LNP | Liberal National Party of Queensland [Opp] |
| ALP | Australian Labor Party [Govt] | LP | Liberal Party of Australia [Opp] |
| CA | Centre Alliance | Nats | The Nationals [Opp] |
| CLP | Country Liberal Party [Opp] | PHON | Pauline Hanson's One Nation |
| Ind | Independent | SBC | Senate Selection of Bills Committee |
| JLN | Jacqui Lambie Network | SC | House of Representatives Selection Committee |
| KAP | Katter—s Australia Party | UAP | United Australia Party |
(Indigenous Australians portfolio)
Amends: the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986 to: amend the title of the Act to the Aboriginal Land and Waters (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986; exempt certain leases granted by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council from the application of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT); increase the payment amount at which the council is required to seek approval from the minister before entering into a contract; amend the council's governance structure and decision making powers to align more closely with other corporate Commonwealth entities; remove the requirement for the council to enter into an agreement to lease with the Director of National Parks before land in the Booderee National Park can be declared as Aboriginal land; clarify that the functions of the council relate only to registered members and eligible children; and update the wording of the term 'physical or mental incapacity'; and eight Acts to make consequential amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 26/10/22
- Passed 29/11/22
Senate:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 30/11/22
(Mr Wilkie — Ind)
Amends the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to: require gambling companies to report to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre if they have reason to suspect a person is paying for gambling services with money obtained illegally; and enable the Federal Court to make compensation orders where gambling companies have provided gambling services to a person who they suspect has paid for the gambling service using money obtained illegally.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 5/9/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 5/9/22
(Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio)
Gives effect to certain elements of the Government's National Cultural Policy by amending the: Australia Council Act 2013 to: enable the transfer of the functions of Creative Partnerships Australia Ltd to the Australia Council and provide that it may operate as either the Australia Council or Creative Australia; and clarify the constitutional basis for the Act; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to remove Creative Partnerships as a deductible gift recipient.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 15/2/23
- Passed 8/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 9/3/23
- Passed 23/3/23
(Senator Hanson — PHON)
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.
Senate:
- Introduced 10/2/20
- 2nd reading adjourned 10/2/20, 31/8/20
- Bill referred to Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee 10/12/20 (SBC report no. 12 of 2020); report presented out of sitting 5/7/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 3/8/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 23/11/22
(Senator Steele-John — AG)
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.
Senate:
- Introduced 12/2/19
- 2nd reading adjourned 12/2/19
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 46th Parliament 1/7/19
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 4/7/19
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Mr Wilkie — Ind)
Amends the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 to: require the Classification Board to classify computer games which contain 'loot boxes' as either R 18+ or RC; and require a warning to displayed when games contain loot boxes or similar features.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 28/11/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 28/11/22
(Senator Waters — AG)
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: prohibit political donations from the fossil fuel industry, property developers, the tobacco industry, the banking industry, liquor and gambling businesses, pharmaceutical companies and representative organisations for these industries; impose a cumulative limit on political donations from any source of $3,000 per election term; and extend the definition of 'gift' to include subscription and membership fees, as well as attendance at fundraising events.
Senate:
- Introduced 24/11/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 24/11/22, 1/12/22
(Mr Wilkie — Ind)
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: lower the donation disclosure threshold from $13,800 to $1,000 for individual donations and require aggregation under the threshold; expand the definition of 'gift'; introduce a cap of $50,000 on the total amount of donations a donor can provide during an electoral cycle; require real-time disclosure by gift recipients to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) within two business days of the donation threshold being reached or exceeded; require the AEC to publish donation returns by reporting entities on the Transparency Register as soon as reasonably practicable; introduce an electoral expenditure cap to limit the amount of money that can be spent on federal election campaigns; prohibit political donations from particular industries, including fossil fuel entities, gambling companies, liquor companies and the tobacco industry; and increase certain penalties for corporations.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 13/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 13/2/23
(Senator Steele-John — AG)
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: lower the minimum (non-compulsory) voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; allow 14 and 15 year olds to be added to the electoral roll in preparation for their eligibility to vote at 16 years of age; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.
Senate:
- Introduced 18/6/18
- 2nd reading adjourned 18/6/18, 21/6/18
- Bill referred to Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters 25/6/18; extensions of time to report 20/9/18, 28/11/18; report presented out of sitting 29/3/19; report tabled in House of Representatives 2/4/19
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 46th Parliament 1/7/19
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 4/7/19
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
- Discharged from Notice Paper 8/2/23
(Ms Steggall — Ind)
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: prohibit misleading or deceptive electoral or referendum matter; prohibit persons or bodies corporate from deceptively impersonating, or falsely attributing material to, a person, candidate, campaigner, political party or entity; and give the Australian Electoral Commissioner the power to investigate possible breaches, order retractions, publish corrections, and pursue complaints through the courts.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 28/11/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 28/11/22
(Senator Hanson — PHON)
Prohibits discrimination based on a person's COVID-19 vaccination status by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, statutory authorities, local governments, and private enterprises.
Senate:
(Mrs Andrews — LP)
Amends the: Criminal Code Act 1995 to: amend the geographical jurisdiction provision for computer offences; introduce standalone offences for extortive conduct associated with ransomware and dealing with data obtained by unauthorised access or modification; introduce aggravated offences relating to cyber attacks on critical infrastructure assets and producing, supplying or obtaining data under arrangement for payment; and increase maximum penalties for certain other computer offences; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to ensure that existing information gathering powers and freezing orders in relation to financial institutions can also be exercised in relation to digital currency exchanges; and Crime Act 1914 and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to ensure that law enforcement agencies can seize digital assets (including cryptocurrency) discovered during the execution of a warrant and suspected to be proceeds of crime.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 26/9/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 26/9/22
(Senator Antic — LP)
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to introduce three new offences relating to the incitement of trespass, property damage or theft and unlawful obstruction of traffic in central business districts and other centres of significant business or cultural activity in Australia.
Senate:
- Introduced 8/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 8/2/23
(Senator Cash — LP)
Senate:
- Introduced 23/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 23/3/23
(Prime Minister's portfolio)
Amends the Customs Act 1901 to remove a duplicate definition.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 26/7/22
- Read a 1st time 26/7/22
(Senator Steele-John — AG)
Amends the Customs Act 1901 to prohibit the importation into Australia of goods that are produced in whole or in part by forced labour.
Senate:
- Introduced 22/11/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/11/22
(Senator Faruqi — AG)
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.
Senate:
- Introduced 1/9/21
- 2nd reading adjourned 1/9/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Home Affairs portfolio)
Amends the: Customs Act 1901 to establish a framework to facilitate time-limited trials of trade and customs practices and technologies, with approved entities, in a controlled regulatory environment; Australian Border Force Act 2015 to provide that the Comptroller-General of Customs' powers to make rules in relation to controlled trials cannot be delegated; and Customs Act 1901, Customs Regulations 2015 and Customs Tariff Act 1995 to make technical amendments to customs legislation, including to provide that Notices of Intention to Propose Customs Tariff Alterations will not be subject to disallowance under the Legislation Act 2003.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Passed 9/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 9/2/23
(Home Affairs portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Senator Steele-John — AG)
Amends the Defence Act 1903 to require parliamentary approval of overseas service by members of the Australian Defence Force.
Senate:
- Introduced 7/12/20
- 2nd reading adjourned 7/12/20, 30/8/21
- Bill referred to Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee 2/9/21 (SBC report no. 11 of 2021); report tabled 30/11/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Senator Faruqi — AG)
Amends the: Higher Education Support Act 2003, Social Security Act 1991, Student Assistance Act 1973, Trade Support Loans Act 2014 and VET Student Loans Act 2016 to remove indexation on certain education and training loans; and Higher Education Support Act 2003, Social Security Act 1991 and Student Assistance Act 1973 to: define 'median wage'; and raise the minimum repayment income and amend the percentage of income a person is liable to repay the Commonwealth for certain education and training loans.
Senate:
(Education portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/3/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 Opp negatived
- Consideration in detail amendments: 93 Ind (Dr Scamps) agreed to
- Passed 23/3/23
Senate:
(Mr Bates — AG)
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: lower the minimum voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 6/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 6/2/23
(Senator Steele-John — AG)
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: lower the minimum voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.
Senate:
- Introduced 8/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 8/2/23
(Senator Rice — AG)
The bill: requires the Minister for Energy and Emission Reduction to table in each House of Parliament an annual statement outlining Australia's strategy on electric vehicles; and provides for the reference of matters to the Productivity Commission, including Australia—s support for the manufacture, purchase and use of electric vehicles.
Senate:
- Introduced 16/6/21
- 2nd reading adjourned 16/6/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Mr Wilkie — Ind)
The bill: establishes a legal framework governing immigration detention in Australia; provides alternatives to immigration detention; and prioritises non-citizens' immediate needs and refugee and international human rights law.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/8/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 1/8/22
- Bill referred to Joint Standing Committee on Migration 28/9/22 (SC report no. 3)
(Senator Rice — AG)
Senate:
- Introduced 9/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 9/3/23
(Senators Canavan and Caddell — Nats, Senators Antic, Colbeck, Fawcett, O'Sullivan and Van — LP, Senator Rennick — LNP and Senator Nampijinpa Price — CLP)
Amends the: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 to remove the prohibition on the construction or operation of certain nuclear installations; and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to remove the prohibition on the Minister for Environment and Water declaring, approving or considering actions relating to the construction or operation of certain nuclear installations.
Senate:
- Introduced 28/9/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 28/9/22
- Bill referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee 27/10/22 (SBC report no. 6 of 2022); extension of time to report 6/3/23; report due 8/5/23
(Mr Bandt — AG)
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.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 5/9/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 5/9/22
(Senator Hanson-Young — AG)
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.
Senate:
- Introduced 5/9/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 5/9/22
- Bill referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee 8/9/22 (SBC report no. 4 of 2022); extension of time to report 7/2/23; report due 29/3/23
(Senator McKenzie — Nats)
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002 to provide that forestry operations covered by a regional forest agreement are exempted from Part 3 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Senate:
- Introduced 9/12/20
- 2nd reading adjourned 9/12/20
- Bill referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee 18/2/21 (SBC report no. 2 of 2021); extension of time to report 11/5/21; report tabled 13/5/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 28/7/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 1/8/22
(Senator Hanson-Young — AG)
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: prevent the minister from approving an action which involves the clearing of koala habitat; and remove the exemption of regional forest agreements from requirements of the Act where there is, may, or is likely to have significant impacts on koalas.
Senate:
- Introduced 4/2/21
- 2nd reading adjourned 4/2/21, 22/2/21
- Bill referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee 25/2/21 (SBC report no. 3 of 2021); extension of time to report 22/11/21; progress report presented out of sitting 11/2/22; extension of time to report 29/3/22; progress report presented out of sitting 10/5/22
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
- Bill referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee 28/7/22 (SBC report no. 2 of 2022); extension of time to report 7/2/23; report due 29/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 26/10/22
(Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio)
Amends the Export Control Act 2020 to: provide for the use and disclosure of certain information, including protected information; enable the secretary to impose or vary conditions at the same time as approving a variation to an approved arrangement, accredited property, registered establishment or export licence; require fit and proper person assessments to take into consideration certain information received under the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991; and make minor technical amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Passed 8/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 9/2/23
(Senator Roberts — PHON)
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to require that labour hire workers covered by certain modern awards receive at least the same rate of pay as other employees performing the same work.
Senate:
- Introduced 10/2/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 10/2/22
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
- Bill referred to Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee 28/7/22 (SBC report no. 2 of 2022); report presented out of sitting 24/10/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 30/11/22
(Senator Canavan — Nats, Senator Antic — LP and Senator Rennick — LNP)
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to add COVID-19 vaccination status as an attribute protected from discrimination.
Senate:
(Mr Bandt — AG)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 20/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 20/3/23
(Senator Hanson-Young — AG)
Amends the: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: establish the Commonwealth Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to exercise the routine administrative regulatory functions currently undertaken by the Commonwealth in relation to the Act and other Commonwealth legislation relating to the environment and undertake certain functions relating to communities; establish an Office of Monitoring, Compliance, Enforcement and Assurance within the EPA; and establish the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Environment and Energy; and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Water Act 2007 to make consequential amendments.
Senate:
- Introduced 31/8/21
- 2nd reading adjourned 31/8/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Treasury portfolio)
Introduced with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2022 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2022, the bill establishes a financial accountability regime to impose accountability, key personnel, deferred remuneration and notification obligations on directors and senior executives of financial entities in the banking, insurance and superannuation industries.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/9/22
- Passed 28/9/22
Senate:
- Provisions of bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 28/9/22 (SBC report no. 5 of 2022); progress report presented out of sitting 20/10/22; final report presented out of sitting 24/10/22
- Introduced 25/10/22
- Discharged from Notice Paper 9/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/3/23
- Consideration in detail amendments: 13 AG negatived
- Passed 22/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/3/23
- Passed 22/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2022 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2022, the bill imposes a levy on certain industry entities to recover the cost of the compensation scheme of last resort.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/9/22
- Passed 28/9/22
Senate:
- Provisions of bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 28/9/22 (SBC report no. 5 of 2022); progress report presented out of sitting 20/10/22; final report presented out of sitting 24/10/22
- Introduced 25/10/22
- Discharged from Notice Paper 9/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/3/23
- Passed 22/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2022 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2022, the bill provides for the collection and administration of the levy imposed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Act 2022.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/9/22
- Passed 28/9/22
Senate:
- Provisions of bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 28/9/22 (SBC report no. 5 of 2022); progress report presented out of sitting 20/10/22; final report presented out of sitting 24/10/22
- Introduced 25/10/22
- Discharged from Notice Paper 9/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/3/23
- Passed 22/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Ms Tink— Ind)
Amends the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 to require light vehicles to meet Euro 6d vehicle pollution standards.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 28/11/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 28/11/22
(Senator Shoebridge — AG)
Senate:
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Act citation: Higher Education Support Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) Act 2023)
(Education portfolio)
Amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to: amend the definition of 'grandfathered student' to include students undertaking an honours course related to a course of study commenced before 1 January 2021; clarify that a student whose course of study is discontinued by their provider and transfers to a new course will be treated as a grandfathered student; enable the minister to make rules prescribing matters of a transitional nature; and enable the waiver of indexation on HELP debts for certain health practitioners while they are completing eligible work in rural or remote areas.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 10/11/22
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 Ind (Dr Scamps) negatived
- Consideration in detail amendments: 1 Ind (Dr Scamps) agreed to; 1 Opp negatived
- Passed 29/11/22
Senate:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG negatived
- Committee amendments: 5 Opp agreed to
- Passed 9/2/23
House of Representatives:
- House of Representatives agreed to Senate amendments 9/2/23
Assent: 20/2/23 (Act No. 3, 2023)
(Act citation: Higher Education Support Amendment (Australia—s Economic Accelerator) Act 2023)
(Education portfolio)
Amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to: allow the minister to make grants to support arrangements to increase industry-led study and postgraduate research, and to assist higher education providers to undertake research that progresses to a state of commercial readiness the development of technologies and services in sectors aligned with areas of national priority (the Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) program); establish a governance framework to support the delivery of the AEA program; and provide for the protection, disclosure and use of AEA program information.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- Passed 9/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG negatived
- Committee amendments: 2 AG agreed to
- Passed 6/3/23
House of Representatives:
- House of Representatives agreed to Senate amendments 7/3/23
Assent: 14/3/23 (Act No. 5, 2023)
(Finance portfolio)
Introduced with the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023 and Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023, the bill establishes the Housing Australia Future Fund to make grants, and enable Housing Australia to make grants and loans, in relation to acute housing needs, social housing or affordable housing.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- 2nd reading amendments: 1 Ind (Ms Le) negatived; 1 AG to Ind (Ms Le) negatived
- Consideration in detail amendments: 6 AG negatived; 1 CA negatived; 8 Ind (Dr Haines) negatived; 1 Ind (Ms Le) negatived
- Passed 15/2/23
Senate:
(Senator Canavan — Nats, Senator Antic — LP and Senator Babet — UAP)
The bill: clarifies that children born alive are persons; requires health practitioners to provide medical care, treatment and statistics on children born alive as a result of terminations; and provides that the mother of a child born alive is not liable to prosecution for an offence in respect of that child.
Senate:
(Senator Hanson — PHON)
Senate:
(Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
Senate:
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
Senate:
(Attorney-General's portfolio)
Amends: the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to: enhance the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security's (IGIS) oversight functions and powers; prevent the head or deputy head of an agency within the IGIS's jurisdiction, immediately after serving in that position, being appointed as the Inspector-General; allow the IGIS to consider employment-related grievances for staff employed under the Office of National Intelligence Act 2018; streamline reporting and information sharing procedures; and make technical amendments to clarify and modernise drafting expressions and remove redundant provisions; 14 Acts to make consequential amendments; and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986, National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 and Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006 to make amendments contingent on the commencement of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Bill referred to Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security 9/2/23; report tabled in House of Representatives 20/3/23 and Senate 21/3/23
- Passed 22/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 23/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 23/3/23
(Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
Senate:
(Senator Waters — AG)
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.
Senate:
- Introduced 4/3/15
- 2nd reading adjourned 4/3/15
- Bill referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee 5/3/15 (SBC report no. 2 of 2015); report presented out of sitting 30/9/15
- Lapsed due to prorogation of first session of 44th Parliament 17/4/16
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 19/4/16
- Lapsed due to dissolution of 44th Parliament 9/5/16
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 31/8/16
- 2nd reading adjourned 24/11/16
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 46th Parliament 1/7/19
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 31/7/19
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Senator Hanson-Young — AG)
Requires the Treasurer to establish a Live Performance Federal Insurance Guarantee Fund to underwrite insurance for the live performance industry to enable future live performance events.
Senate:
- Introduced 25/8/21
- 2nd reading adjourned 25/8/21
- Bill referred to Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee 2/9/21 (SBC report no. 11 of 2021); progress report presented out of sitting 8/10/21; extension of time to report 18/10/21; progress report presented out of sitting 29/10/21; final report presented out of sitting 19/11/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Home affairs portfolio)
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.
Senate:
- Introduced 7/2/23
- Committee amendments: 1 Opp negatived; 1 AG negatived; 3 JLN negatived; 1 Ind (Senator David Pocock) negatived
- Passed 9/2/23
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- Consideration in detail amendments: 1 Opp negatived; 1 Ind (Ms Daniel) negatived
- Passed 13/2/23
Assent: 16/2/23 (Act No. 1, 2023)
(Home Affairs portfolio)
Introduced with the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023, the bill amends the Migration Act 1958 to enable the minister to implement a visa pre-application process to enable the random selection of eligible persons who would then be permitted to apply for a relevant visa.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 16/2/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 Opp negatived
- Passed 9/3/23
Senate:
(Senator McKim — AG)
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: require the minister to provide an offer of transfer to Australia to all persons in the offshore cohort in Papua New Guinea or the Republic of Nauru who have not had an adverse security assessment made against them by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation; and provide that transferred persons will be placed in community detention while they pursue a durable solution, being resettlement in a third country which is a state party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Refugee Protocol.
Senate:
(Mr Tehan — LP)
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: amend the character test by providing grounds to consider visa cancellation or refusal where a non-citizen has been convicted of offences involving violence against a person, weapons, breaching of an apprehended violence order (or similar) or non-consensual sexual acts; provide that, for an offence involving violence against a person, a person's conviction for an offence of common assault, or equivalent, will not be taken to be a conviction for a designated offence unless the act constituting the offence causes or substantially contributes to bodily harm to another person, or harm to another person's mental health, or involves family violence; and make consequential amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 13/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 13/2/23
(Home Affairs portfolio)
Introduced with the Migration Amendment (Australia—s Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023, the bill imposes a charge on a person registering to participate in a visa pre-application process.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 16/2/23
- Passed 9/3/23
Senate:
(Finance portfolio)
Amends the Ministers of State Act 1952 to require the Official Secretary to the Governor-General to publish a notifiable instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation to advise that the Governor-General has chosen, summoned and sworn an Executive Councillor to the Federal Executive Council, appointed an officer to administer a Department of State of the Commonwealth, directed a Minister of State to hold an office, or has revoked any of these positions.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 1/12/22, 8/2/23, 9/2/23, 13/2/23, 14/2/23, 15/2/23, 6/3/23, 7/3/23, 9/3/23, 20/3/23, 21/3/23, 23/3/23
(Senator Allman-Payne — AG)
Establishes the National Energy Transition Authority as a statutory authority to plan, coordinate and provide advice on the transition to renewable energy, focusing on the facilitation of new economic opportunities for workers and communities who are currently involved in fossil fuel production and associated industries.
Senate:
- Introduced 27/9/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 27/9/22
- Bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 28/9/22 (SBC report no. 5 of 2022); progress report presented out of sitting 22/12/22; extension of time to report 7/2/23; final report tabled 24/3/23
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/3/23
- Passed 22/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading amendments: 1 Opp agreed to; 1 AG agreed to
- Passed 24/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
Introduced with the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 and Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023, the bill establishes the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council as an independent advisory body to the Commonwealth Government on matters relating to housing supply and affordability.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- Consideration in detail amendments: 2 Ind (Dr Haines) agreed to; 4 AG negatived; 5 Ind (Dr Haines) negatived; 1 Ind (Ms Le) negatived
- Passed 16/2/23
Senate:
(Previous title: National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2022)
(Industry, Science and Resources portfolio)
Establishes the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation as a corporate Commonwealth entity to invest in projects in priority areas of the Australian economy through the provision of financial accommodation and the acquisition of equity interests.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Consideration in detail amendments: 1 AG agreed to; 1 Ind (Ms Daniel) agreed to; 7 KAP negatived; 3 Ind (Dr Scamps) negatived; 4 Ind (Ms Spender) negatived
- Passed 9/3/23
Senate:
- Provisions of bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 1/12/22 (SBC report no. 8 of 2022); progress report presented out of sitting 22/12/22; extension of time to report 7/2/23; final report presented out of sitting 10/3/23
- Introduced 20/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 20/3/23, 24/3/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG pending
(Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/3/23
- Passed 23/3/23
Senate:
(Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Senator Nampijinpa Price — CLP)
Reinstates measures that previously applied under the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012 which were aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm to vulnerable communities in the Northern Territory.
Senate:
- Introduced 7/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 7/2/23, 8/2/23, 9/3/23, 24/3/23
(Senator Hanson — PHON)
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to broaden the objects clause of the Act to require the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator and the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority to take into account the benefit to the Australian community when granting new leases or renewing existing leases.
Senate:
- Introduced 8/12/20
- 2nd reading adjourned 8/12/20, 15/3/21
- Bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 4/2/21 (SBC report no. 1 of 2021); report presented out of sitting 11/3/21
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG pending
- Bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 17/3/21; progress report presented out of sitting 28/4/21; extension of time to report 11/5/21; final report presented out of sitting 30/6/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 3/8/22
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG negatived
- Negatived at 2nd reading 26/9/22
(Senator Whish-Wilson — AG)
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to: cancel Petroleum Exploration Permit 11, and Petroleum Exploration Permit/T/49P (King Island, Tasmania); prevent any petroleum exploration leases for the Otway Basin/12 Apostles being granted; and prohibit any further petroleum exploration in the three areas.
Senate:
- Introduced 4/8/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 4/8/22, 9/2/23
(Ms Steggall — Ind)
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to cancel Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP11) and prohibit any further petroleum exploration in the PEP11.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 13/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 13/2/23
(Act citation: Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Improvements for Families and Gender Equality) Act 2023)
(Social Services portfolio)
Amends the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 to: extend paid parental leave (PPL) pay from 18 weeks to 20 weeks from 1 July 2023, with two weeks reserved on a 'use it or lose' basis for each claimant; remove the notion of primary, secondary and tertiary claimants and the requirement that the primary claimants of parental leave pay must be the birth parent; make paid parental leave consist only of flexible PPL days and remove the requirement to not return to work in order to be eligible; introduce a $350,000 family income limit under which families can be assessed if they do not meet the individual income test; and allow an eligible father or partner to receive parental leave pay regardless of whether the birth parent meets the income test, residency requirements or is serving a newly arrived resident's waiting period. Also makes consequential amendments to eight Acts.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Passed 9/2/23
Senate:
- Provisions of bill referred to Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee 1/12/22 (SBC report no. 8 of 2022); report presented out of sitting 24/2/23
- Introduced 9/2/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG negatived.
- Committee amendments: 10 Opp negatived
- Committee requests for amendments: 16 AG negatived
- Passed 6/3/23
Assent: 10/3/23 (Act No. 4)
(Senators Lambie and Tyrrell — JLN)
Amends the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 to implement a recommendation of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to allow a royal commission, whose terms of reference require an examination of government, to analyse and draw inferences or conclusions from evidence that is subject to parliamentary privilege.
Senate:
- Introduced 7/9/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 7/9/22, 26/9/22
- Bill referred to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee 28/9/22 (SBC report no. 5 of 2022); report presented out of sitting 17/11/22
(Senator Hanson — PHON)
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?".
Senate:
- Introduced 15/8/18
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 46th Parliament 1/7/19
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 24/7/19
- Negatived at 2nd reading 29/7/19
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 3/8/22
(Act citation: Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Medical Device and Human Tissue Product List and Cost Recovery) Act 2023)
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
Introduced with the Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2022 and Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022, the bill amends the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 to: align relevant definitions of medical devices and human tissue products with the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989; rename the Private Health Insurance (Prostheses) Rules (No. 3) 2022 as the Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products) Rules; and enable the minister to establish fee for service cost recovery arrangements. Also makes consequential amendments to the Private Health Insurance (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2007.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- Passed 7/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 8/2/23
- 2nd reading amendments: 1 AG negatived; 1 Ind (Senator David Pocock) negatived
- Committee amendment: 1 Govt agreed to
- Passed 7/3/23
House of Representatives:
- House of Representatives agreed to Senate amendment 8/3/23
Assent: 16/3/23 (Act No. 8, 2023)
(Act citation: Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment (Consequential Amendments) Act 2023)
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
Introduced with the Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Medical Device and Human Tissue Product List and Cost Recovery) Bill 2022 and Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2022, the bill amends the Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Act 2009 to: update references to the renamed Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products) Rules; and amend an incorrect reference to a ministerial determination.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- Passed 7/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 8/2/23
- 2nd reading amendments: 1 AG negatived; 1 Ind (Senator David Pocock) negatived
- Passed 7/3/23
Assent: 16/3/23 (Act No. 6, 2023)
(Act citation: Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Amendment (Cost Recovery) Act 2023)
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
Introduced with the Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Medical Device and Human Tissue Product List and Cost Recovery) Bill 2022 and Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022, the bill amends the Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Act 2007 to: amend the long title of the Act; provide for a cost recovery levy on each kind of medical device and human tissue product on the Prescribed List of Benefits for Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products; allow regulations and rules to provide for matters in relation to the levy; and rename the legislative instrument for medical devices and human tissue products that may be made under the Act.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- Passed 7/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 8/2/23
- 2nd reading amendments: 1 AG negatived; 1 Ind (Senator David Pocock) negatived
- Passed 7/3/23
Assent: 16/3/23 (Act No. 7, 2023)
(Senator Duniam — LP)
Senate:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Attorney-General's portfolio)
Amends the: Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 to: provide that 'personal work-related conduct' does not fall within the public interest disclosure (PID) scheme; amend the process for authorised officers' handling and allocation of disclosures, and principal officers' investigation of disclosures; expand the scope of protections for disclosers and availability of civil remedies for reprisal action taken against a person who has made, or may make, a PID; remove the general secrecy offence; clarify the roles of the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security in receiving and investigating complaints about the handling of a disclosure by an agency; establish a procedure for handling disclosures where there is a machinery of government change; amend the definitions of 'agencies', 'public officials' and 'principal officers'; exclude grant recipients from the application of the Act; provide for a review of the Act five years after the commencement of the amendments in the bill; and make minor amendments; and National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022, National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2022 and Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 to make amendments contingent on the commencement of the National Anti-Corruption Commission legislation enacted in November 2022.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Consideration in detail amendments: 2 Ind (Ms Daniel) negatived
- Passed 15/2/23
Senate:
(Finance portfolio)
Amends the: Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: align postal voting procedures in referendums with equivalent procedures in federal elections; enable the early opening and sorting of pre-poll ordinary votes, and the extraction of declaration votes during preliminary scrutiny; align authorisation requirements with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918; establish a financial disclosure and foreign donation restrictions framework for referendum campaigning; prohibit foreign donations of $100 or more for referendum campaigning, and prohibit foreign campaigners from fundraising or directly incurring referendum expenditure in a financial year equal to or more than $1,000; enable the Electoral Commissioner to make modifications to certain aspects of a referendum during a declared emergency; and make technical amendments; and Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: extend the application of the designated elector framework to referendums; and make consequential amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- Bill referred to Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters 1/12/22; report tabled in House of Representatives 13/2/23 and Senate 7/3/23
- 2nd reading amendments: 1 Ind (Ms Steggall) negatived; 1 AG to Ind (Ms Steggall) negatived
- Consideration in detail amendments: 3 AG negatived; 3 Ind (Ms Steggall) negatived
- Passed 7/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 8/3/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 Opp negatived; 1 PHON negatived
- Committee amendments: 7 Govt agreed to; 1 Opp negatived; 9 AG negatived; 1 Ind (Senator David Pocock) to Govt negatived; 1 PHON negatived; 14 Ind (Senator David Pocock) negatived; 2 Ind (Senator Thorpe) negatived
- Passed 22/3/23
House of Representatives:
- House of Representatives agreed to Senate amendments 23/3/23
(Attorney-General's portfolio)
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 Defence and Veteran Suicide outside of a private session; and Freedom of Information Act 1982 to exempt this information from the operation of the Act.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 15/2/23
- Passed 8/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 9/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 9/3/23
(Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio)
Amends the: National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 to create safeguard mechanism credit units (SMCs) and provide for related registration, transfer and compliance arrangements consistent with the treatment of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs); Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to provide that SMCs receive the same tax treatment as other specified units; Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 to: provide ownership and transfer arrangements for SMCs; require the publication of information about holdings and cancellations of SMCs; and provide for the making of legislative rules to increase transparency of information on unit holdings or allow for the voluntary surrender of units; Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011, Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011 and National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 to: provide that protected information includes all information held by the Clean Energy Regulator regardless of when it was obtained; and make consequential amendments; and Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 to: enable legislative rules to prevent the regulator from entering into carbon abatement contracts that reduce covered emissions of facilities covered by the safeguard mechanism; require the regulator to consider the safeguard mechanism when assessing the regulatory additionality of proposed offsets projects; and make a consequential amendment.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 30/11/22, 8/3/23, 9/3/23, 20/3/23, 21/3/23, 22/3/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 Ind (Ms Tink) pending
Senate:
(Senator Waters — AG)
Amends the Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act 1997 to prohibit the Snowy Hydro Company and Snowy hydro-group companies from being involved in creating or investing in new fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity.
Senate:
- Introduced 13/5/21
- 2nd reading adjourned 13/5/21, 21/6/21
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
(Social Services portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 9/3/23
Senate:
(Senator Dean Smith — LP)
Amends the: Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to enable age pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients to have their payment suspended for up to two years, instead of cancelled, if their income, which includes some income from the recipient's own employment, precludes payment; and provide for the same suspension period for partners of the age pension, disability support pension and certain veterans' entitlements recipients, where the partner is receiving a social security pension or certain veterans' entitlements; Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to make minor amendments to the existing suspension provisions for disability support pensioners; and Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to: provide that working age pensioners, disability support pensioners and certain veterans' entitlements recipients, and their pensioner partners, can retain their pensioner concession card for up to two years after their payment ceases; and increase to $600 the amount of income age pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients can earn each fortnight while still receiving maximum pension payments and provide for a review, and sunsetting, of these amendments.
Senate:
- Introduced 3/8/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 3/8/22, 5/9/22
- Bill referred to Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee 4/8/22 (SBC report no. 3 of 2022); report presented out of sitting 30/9/22
(Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio)
Amends the: Telecommunications Act 1997 to: enable carriers and carriage service providers to use and disclose information for purposes connected to the prevention of a serious threat to the life or health of a person; authorise the use and disclosure of unlisted numbers and associated addresses for the purposes of dealing with matters raised by a call to an emergency service number; confer civil immunities on telecommunications companies for the provision of reasonably necessary assistance to the Commonwealth, states or territories where a national emergency declaration is in force; and require more detailed records of information to be recorded for authorised disclosures; and Telstra Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021 and Telecommunications Act 1997 to make minor technical amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 10/11/22
- Passed 28/11/22
Senate:
(Act citation: Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2022 Measures No. 1) Act 2023)
(Health and Aged Care portfolio)
Amends the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to: require mandatory reporting of adverse events involving medical devices; provide a marketing approval pathway for biologicals that are for export only; remove merits review rights for a decision by the secretary to require a person to provide information or documents under the Act; enable the secretary to extend the period for a person to pay the amount stated in an infringement notice, and require a person to provide information or documents that are relevant to a contravention of the Act; extend the period for which seized goods can be held; provide that therapeutic goods advertising is excluded from advertising restrictions for certain health professionals or to persons purchasing goods on behalf of governments, registered charities or health facilities; enable the secretary to withdraw approval for the use of a restricted representation in an advertisement about therapeutic goods; enable the secretary to approve the importation or supply of substitute overseas prescription medicine that has been previously approved within Australia; provide that the secretary is not required to observe any requirements of the natural justice hearing rule when releasing therapeutic goods information; provide that sponsors of reportable medicines that are in shortage must provide updated information to the secretary; and make technical amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- Passed 8/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- 2nd reading amendments: 2 AG negatived; 1 UAP negatived
- Committee amendments: 3 Govt agreed to; 11 AG negatived; 2 UAP negatived
- Passed 9/3/23.
House of Representatives:
- House of Representatives agreed to Senate amendments 9/3/23
Assent: 21/3/23 (Act No. 10, 2023)
(Dr Scamps — Ind)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 6/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 6/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
Amends the: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to: provide for a 30% refundable tax offset in relation to the development of digital games in Australia; and update the list of deductible gift recipients; A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 2019 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to clarify that certain digital currencies continue to be excluded from the income tax treatment of foreign currency; Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 to enable the commissioner to determine alternative records which may be kept and retained by employers for fringe benefit tax record keeping purposes; Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to provide for temporary measures allowing certain small businesses to access 20% bonus deductions for eligible expenditure incurred on external training for employees, and expenses and depreciating assets for the purpose of digitising operations; Corporations Act 2001, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 to extend existing reporting and auditing requirements to registerable superannuation entities; Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act 2012 to: amend the definition of 'responsible ministers' and specify that the minister administering the Act is also the nominated minister unless determined otherwise in writing; credit the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) Special Account with $11.5 billion after commencement of the amendments; and enable additional amounts to be credited to the CEFC Special Account through additional appropriations of the Parliament; and Income Tax Assessment (1997 Act) Regulations 2021; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to: amend the definition of 'superannuation income stream'; provide a non-refundable tax offset for certain members of the Military Superannuation Benefits Scheme and Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme; and specify eligibility criteria and a framework for a veterans— superannuation (invalidity pension) tax offset.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 23/11/22
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 Opp negatived
- Consideration in detail amendment: 1 Ind (Mr Wilkie) negatived
- Passed 30/11/22
Senate:
- Provisions of bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 24/11/22 (SBC report no. 7 of 2022); progress report presented out of sitting 22/12/22; extension of time to report 7/2/23; final report presented out of sitting 3/3/23
- Introduced 1/12/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 1/12/22
(Act citation: Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 5) Act 2023
(Treasury portfolio)
Amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to update the list of deductible gift recipients.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Passed 1/12/22
Senate:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG negatived
- Passed 7/2/23
Assent: 16/2/23 (Act No. 2, 2023)
(Treasury portfolio)
Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 to: allow the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to approve applications from one or more licensees to register on the Financial Advisers Register the same relevant provider; and allow assisted decision-making to be used for any purpose for which ASIC may make decisions in the performance or exercise of its functions or powers to register a relevant provider; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to: provide the Australian Accounting Standards Board with functions to develop and formulate sustainability standards; expand the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board's functions to include formulating auditing and assurance standards for sustainability purposes; and expand the Financial Reporting Council's oversight and governance powers to account for the development of sustainability standards; Tax Agent Services Act 2009 to implement certain recommendations of the Review of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) by: amending the objects clause of the Act; creating a special account for the TPB; requiring tax practitioners not to employ or use a disqualified entity without the TPB's approval, or enter an arrangement with a disqualified entity; converting the registration period from at least every three years to at least every year; and enabling the minister to supplement the existing Code of Professional Conduct; Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to align the income tax treatment of off-market share buy-backs undertaken by listed public companies with on-market share buy-backs; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to: ensure the alignment of tax treatment across capital management activities for listed public companies; and prevent certain distributions that are funded by capital raisings from being frankable.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 16/2/23
- Consideration in detail amendments: 2 Opp negatived
- Passed 9/3/23
Senate:
(Home Affairs portfolio)
Amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to establish action initiation reforms, enabling consumer data right (CDR) consumers to direct accredited persons to instruct on actions on their behalf, such as making a payment, opening and closing an account, switching providers and updating personal details, using the CDR framework.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 30/11/22
- Passed 15/2/23
Senate:
(Treasury portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 8/3/23
- Passed 22/3/23
Senate:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Treasury portfolio)
Introduced with the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 and National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023, the bill amends: the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018 to rename the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to Housing Australia; the renamed Housing Australia Act 2018 to: streamline the functions of Housing Australia; establish an annual review mechanism for the National Housing Infrastructure Facility; and extend the Commonwealth guarantee of the liabilities of Housing Australia to apply to contracts entered into until 30 June 2028; and 10 Acts to make consequential amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- Consideration in detail amendments: 2 Opp negatived; 2 AG negatived
- Passed 16/2/23
Senate:
(Previous title: Treasury Laws Amendment (Modernising Business Communications and Other Measures) Bill 2022)
(Treasury portfolio)
Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 to: enable all documents under the Act to be signed electronically and for certain documents to be sent in either hard copy or electronic form; and provide that companies are not required to send documents to a member where contact details are known to be incorrect; Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Competition and Consumer Act 2010, National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and Tax Agent Services Act 2009 to enable certain regulatory bodies to hold virtual hearings and examinations; Corporations Act 2001, Excise Act 1901 and Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995 to allow electronic payments to be used; 11 Acts to require notices in newspapers to be published in an accessible and reasonably prominent manner; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Corporations Act 2001, ASIC Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Act 2017 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to: remove erroneous references and redundant definitions; apply consistent headings to definitions sections; and make minor technical amendments; Corporations Act 2001, National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2009 to move five legislative instruments into primary law; and 15 Acts to make minor technical amendments.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 23/11/22
- Consideration in detail amendments: 2 Govt agreed to
- Passed 6/2/23
Senate:
- Provisions of bill referred to Senate Economics Legislation Committee 24/11/22 (SBC report no. 7 of 2022); progress report presented out of sitting 22/12/22; extension of time to report 7/2/23; final report presented out of sitting 3/3/23
- Introduced 7/2/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 7/2/23
(Treasury portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Senator Thorpe — Ind)
The bill: establishes a framework for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the Commonwealth Government; and makes a consequential amendment to the Productivity Commission Act 1998.
Senate:
- Introduced 29/3/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 29/3/22
- Lapsed immediately before commencement of 47th Parliament 25/7/22
- Restored to Notice Paper at 2nd reading 27/7/22
- 2nd reading adjourned 1/8/22
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 Senator Dodson pending
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2023
(Veterans' Affairs portfolio)
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 22/3/23
- 2nd reading adjourned 22/3/23
(Act citation: Work Health and Safety Amendment Act 2023)
(Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio)
Amends the: Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to: include negligence as a fault element in relation to a category one offence; clarify that a work group is negotiated with workers who are proposed to form the work group; amend the obligation to train health and safety representatives to provide that representatives are entitled to choose a course of training; amend the process for the issuing and services of notices under the Act; enable an inspector, within 30 days of entering a workplace, to issue certain written notices relating to the reason for entry; specify that Comcare is able to share information with certain other persons for the purpose of performing functions under relevant laws; extend from 12 to 18 months the deadline for a person to make a request to the regulator to bring a prosecution for a category one or two offence; prohibit a person from entering into a contract of insurance to provide coverage over liability for monetary penalties imposed under the Act, and create a related offence; and Safe Work Australia Act 2008 to specify that Safe Work Australia may be provided with information necessary to its data and evidence functions.
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 1/12/22
- Passed 9/2/23
Senate:
- Introduced 9/2/23
- 2nd reading amendment: 1 AG agreed to
- Committee amendments: 2 PHON negatived; 1 Senator Canavan/Senator Antic/Senator Babet/Senator Rennick negatived
- Passed 9/3/23
Assent: 21/3/23 (Act No. 9, 2023)
(Women portfolio)
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'.
Senate:
- Introduced 8/2/23
- Bill referred to Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee 9/2/23 (SBC report no. 1 of 2023); report presented out of sitting 16/3/23
- Passed 23/3/23
House of Representatives:
- Introduced 23/3/23
- Read a 1st time 23/3/23
MORE INFORMATION
For further information about the consideration of legislation in the Senate:
Bills and related material can be accessed at https://www.aph.gov.au/bills
Committee reports can be accessed at https://www.aph.gov.au/committees