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TOTAL RESULTS: 657

  • Date
    30 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Indigenous Australians 
    Summary
    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 to registered members and eligible children; and update the wording of the term 'physical or mental incapacity'; and eight Acts to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    30 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Support and Other Measures) Bill 2022 and Excise Tariff Amendment (Cost of Living Support) Bill 2022, the bill amends the
    Customs Tariff Act 1995
    to reduce the excise-equivalent customs duty rates for fuels, including petrol and diesel and similar petroleum based products, including oils and grease by 50 per cent for a six-month period from 30 March to 28 September 2022. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    30 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Support and Other Measures) Bill 2022 and Customs Tariff Amendment (Cost of Living Support) Bill 2022, the bill amends the
    Excise Tariff Act 1921
    to reduce the excise duty rates for fuels, including petrol and diesel and similar petroleum-based products, including oils and grease by 50 per cent for a six-month period from 30 March to 28 September 2022. 

    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
    30 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Excise Tariff Amendment (Cost of Living Support) Bill 2022 and Customs Tariff Amendment (Cost of Living Support) Bill 2022, the bill amends the:
    A New Tax System (Medicare levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999
    and
    Medicare Levy Act 1986
    to: increase the Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge low-income threshold amounts for individuals, families and individual taxpayers and families eligible for the seniors and pensioners tax offset; and increase the phase-in limits as a result of the increased threshold amounts;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: provide an income tax deduction for taxpayers who incur relevant COVID-19 testing expenses in gaining or producing their assessable income; update the list of deductible gift recipients to include six new entities; and increase the low and middle income tax offset by $420 for the 2021-22 financial year;
    Corporations Act 2001
    to provide regulatory relief to allow businesses to create employee share schemes which they would otherwise be unable to operate due to requirements under the Act;
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to reduce the gross domestic product adjustment factor for the 2022-23 financial year to 2 per cent;
    National Health Act 1953
    to lower the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net thresholds for concessional to 36 scripts and general to $1457.10 from 1 July 2022;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    ,
    Social Security Act 1991
    ,
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    and
    Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
    to provide for the payment of a cost of living payment of $250 to certain income support recipients, compensation payment recipients and concession card holders; and
    Product Stewardship (Oil) Regulations 2000
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Makes interim provision to appropriate money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Makes interim provision to appropriate money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Mar 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Makes interim provision to appropriate money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    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. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    to: amend the student identifier requirements for a person's eligibility to receive Commonwealth assistance; provide for new Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt arrangements for rural, remote or very remote health practitioners; provide that units of study undertaken as part of an enabling course will not count towards a student's student learning entitlement; extend the FEE-HELP loan fee exemption to 31 December 2022; provide that domestic students undertaking a microcredential course are eligible for FEE-HELP; and provide that New Zealand citizens are eligible for HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP only if they are a resident in Australia for the duration of the unit; and
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    and
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
    to make technical amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    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 (the Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) program) which progresses the development of technologies and services to a state of commercial investor readiness in sectors aligned with areas of national priority; establish a governance framework to support the delivery of the AEA program; and provide for the protection, disclosure and use of AEA program information. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Implements certain 'Your Future, Your Super' reforms by amending the:
    Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004
    to: remove the existing choice of fund provisions; enable the Commonwealth to make employer superannuation contributions for new parliamentarians to a chosen, stapled or default fund in various circumstances; and provide for the determination of a default fund for parliamentarians if an existing default fund is unable to accept new members due to failing the annual performance test for MySuper products for two consecutive years;
    Superannuation Act 2005
    to provide for the determination of an alternative default fund for Australian Public Service employees if the Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan is unable to accept new members due to failing the annual performance test for MySuper products for two consecutive years;
    Governance of Australian Government Superannuation Schemes Act 2011
    and
    Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017
    to make consequential amendments; and
    Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021
    to enable the Commonwealth to make employer superannuation contributions for judges of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia to a chosen, stapled or default fund in various circumstances. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
    to provide state and territory corrective services authorities with the ability to access telecommunications data. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Aviation Transport Security Act 2004
    and
    Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003
    to: expand the definition of unlawful interference; establish an additional purpose of safeguarding against operational interference and expanding the existing security direction power to include making directions in relation to a specific threat of operational interference; enable the minister to declare critical industry participants, with additional requirements; include additional requirements in relation to security plans and programs; provide for the use and disclosure of protected information; expand the powers of aviation and maritime security inspectors to undertake compliance activities; apply the investigation and civil penalty provisions of the
    Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014
    ; remove timeframes in relation to the provision of certain information; and require mandatory reporting of cyber security incidents; and
    Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends: the
    Corporations Act 2001
    to: allow all documents to be signed or executed electronically; allow certain additional categories of documents to be sent electronically; amend the criteria with which an entity must comply before they are relieved from their obligations to provide a document to a member; and make consequential amendments; the
    Corporate Collective Investment Vehicle Framework and Other Measures Act 2022
    and
    Corporations Act 2001
    to make amendments contingent on the commencement of the
    Corporate Collective Investment Vehicle Framework and Other Measures Act 2022
    ; the
    National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
    to allow documents under the National Credit Code to be given in either physical or electronic form, or by the provision of an electronic postcard; the
    National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2009
    to include application, transitional and saving provisions; the
    Corporations Act 2001
    ,
    Excise Act 1901
    and
    Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995
    to remove certain requirements relating to payments; and 11 Acts to provide that notices required or permitted to be published in newspapers can now be published in a manner that results in the notice being accessible to the public and reasonably prominent. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Corporations Act 2001
    to: provide certain foreign financial service providers with exemptions from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence and from the fit and proper person test; and enable the minister to determine regulators that administer broadly comparable regulatory regimes;
    Corporations Act 2001
    ,
    Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001
    and
    Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
    to impose financial reporting and auditing requirements on registrable superannuation entities that are consistent with those that currently apply to public companies and registered schemes; and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to enable small business entities to apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for an order staying, or otherwise affecting, the operation or implementation of decisions of the Commissioner of Taxation that are being reviewed by the AAT. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Establishes the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to provide for increased minimum and maximum penalties and new aggravated offences for the offences of trafficking prohibited firearms or firearm parts within Australia, and into and out of Australia. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Health Insurance Act 1973
    to enable Services Australia to use computer programs to manage the Register of Approved Placements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Veterans’ Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
    ,
    Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988
    and
    Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
    to: extend eligibility to family members of working age veterans who are experiencing vulnerabilities that give rise to a need for support, whether or not the veteran is participating in a rehabilitation program or has rendered warlike service; and expand the range of supports available to family members under the family support package;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to provide that family support payments for veterans and their families are exempt from income tax; and
    Social Security Act 1991
    to provide that family support payments for veterans and their families are not income for the purposes of the social security income test. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    BANDT, Adam, MP 
    Summary
    The bill: imposes a curfew and certain related restrictions on aircraft movements at Brisbane Airport; provides for the development of a long term operating plan that deals with the management of aircraft movements and airspace at Brisbane Airport; and provides for consultation procedures. Also makes consequential amendments to the
    Airports Act 1996
    and
    National Emergency Declaration Act 2020

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WILKIE, Andrew, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: lower the donation disclosure threshold from $13 800 to $1000 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 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    BANDT, Adam, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    to: prohibit environmental approvals of new coal, gas and oil projects; revoke existing environmental approvals of coal, gas and oil projects that haven't commenced; and prohibit new petroleum exploration permits being granted or renewed in Commonwealth waters and cancel current petroleum exploration permits; and
    Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
    to prohibit petroleum production licences being granted or renewed in Commonwealth waters and cancel current petroleum licences where petroleum recovery operations have not commenced. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HAINES, Helen, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000
    to: include home batteries as an eligible technology to create small-scale technology certificates under the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme; and provide for an independent review of the operation of the scheme. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    CHRISTENSEN, George, MP 
    Summary
    The bill: prohibits providers of large foreign social media services from de-platforming, or censoring the posts of, members of Parliament, candidates in elections, registered political parties or Australian journalistic enterprises; and prohibits providers of large foreign social media services from censoring philosophical discourse on their social media services. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HAINES, Helen, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    to: include performance benchmarks for statutory infrastructure providers (SIPs) relating to internet connections, fault rectifications, appointment keeping and internet speed; and require SIPs to disclose performance data to the Australian Communications and Media Authority for immediate publication on a quarterly basis, or within 30 days following a serious outage; and
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    and
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the
    Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2021-2022
    and
    Appropriation (Coronavirus Response) Act (No. 1) 2021-2022

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the
    Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2021-2022
    and
    Appropriation (Coronavirus Response) Act (No. 2) 2021-2022

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Implements the second tranche of changes to Australia's critical infrastructure framework by amending the:
    Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
    to: provide that specified critical infrastructure assets must adopt and maintain a critical infrastructure risk management program; provide for annual reporting obligations for assets that are exempt from the risk management program obligation; make minor amendments in relation to consultation requirements and immunities; provide for additional cyber security obligations that may be applied in relation to systems of national significance; provide that directions facilitating government assistance to industry in the event of a serious cyber security incident prevail over the requirements of a risk management program; amend provisions that authorise the use and disclosure of protected information; provide that the minister's power to privately declare an asset as a critical infrastructure asset includes a power to require compliance with a risk management program; enable the minister to declare a critical infrastructure asset to be a system of national of significance; and include additional reporting requirements; and
    AusCheck Act 2007
    to make consequential amendments. Also makes a technical amendment to the
    Criminal Code Act 1995

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    CHANDLER, Sen Claire 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Australian Sports Commission Act 1989
    to require the Australian Sports Commission to promote women’s participation in sport, including by supporting the provision of single-sex sport for women and girls; and
    Sex Discrimination Act 1984
    to provide that the provision of single-sex sports, services and facilities for women and girls is consistent with the objects of the Act; insert definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’; and provide that it is not unlawful to exclude persons of one sex from participation in any sporting activity intended for persons of a different sex. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Establishes a framework relating to potentially defamatory content posted on social media by: deeming a person who administers or maintains a social media page not to be a publisher of third-party material; deeming a social media service provider to be the publisher of material that is published on their service if it is posted in Australia; creating a conditional defence for social media service providers in defamation proceedings relating to material on their service that is posted in Australia if the provider meets certain conditions; empowering courts to issue end-user information disclosure orders to require providers of social media services to give the applicant relevant contact details and country location data in certain circumstances; requiring social media companies to have a nominated entity incorporated in Australia able to discharge certain key obligations; and enabling the Attorney-General to intervene in defamation proceedings on behalf of the Commonwealth and authorise a grant of legal assistance. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to: ensure all carers retain access to carer payment, carer allowance and the care allowance health care card until the care receiver turns 16 years and 3 months of age; and ensure that carers of children with a terminal condition who submit their claim documentation for the adult stream before their carer receiver turns 18 years of age, but have not been assessed by the time their carer receiver turns 18, will remain eligible for payment until their claim is assessed. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    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' entitlement recipients, and their pensioner partners, can retain their pensioner concession card for up to two years after their payment ceases. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to introduce the patent box regime to provide concessional tax treatment for ordinary and statutory income derived by a corporate taxpayer from exploiting a medical or biotechnology patent for the financial years commencing on or after 1 July 2022; and
    Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997
    to include application and transitional provisions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture, Water and the Environment 
    Summary
    Establishes a framework for a national voluntary agriculture biodiversity stewardship market to enable agricultural landholders to receive a tradeable certificate for undertaking projects that enhance or protect biodiversity in native species. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government for the purposes of responding to circumstances relating to COVID-19. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure for the purposes of responding to circumstances relating to COVID-19. 

    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
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCGRATH, Sen James 
    Summary
    Responds to recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters' reports into the conduct of the 2013, 2016 and 2019 elections by amending the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to require voters to provide an acceptable form of identification, or alternatively an attestation from another enrolled person who does have an acceptable form of identification, in order to cast an ordinary pre-poll or polling day vote in federal elections and referendums. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Tax Integrity and Supporting Business Investment) Bill 2022 to reduce the tax on certain income earned by foreign resident workers participating in the Australian Agriculture Worker Program or the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme from 32.5 per cent to 15 per cent, the bill amends the
    Income Tax (Seasonal Labour Mobility Program Withholding Tax) Act 2012
    to amend the title of the Act to the
    Income Tax (Labour Mobility Program Withholding Tax) Act 2012

    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
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Prime Minister 
    Summary
    Updates and repeals outdated administrative provisions across Commonwealth legislation, including by amending the:
    Bankruptcy Act 1966
    to: streamline the indexation of certain thresholds and amounts; and make administrative amendments;
    Defence Act 1903
    to enable the minister to delegate certain powers in relation to the Woomera Prohibited Area;
    National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011
    and
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
    to streamline interactions for entities regulated by the National VET Regulator and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency;
    National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Transitional Provisions) Act 2011
    to make transitional provisions;
    Industrial Chemicals Act 2019
    to: correct an error; and enable the executive director to delegate power or functions;
    National Health Act 1953
    to streamline the process for approving a pharmacist to supply pharmaceutical benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
    Private Health Insurance Act 2007
    to clarify certain timeframes; Australian Jobs Act 2013 to enable the Australian Industry Participation Authority to suspend or cancel an approved Australian Industry Participation Plan;
    Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010
    to enable an issuing authority to revoke and reissue a building energy efficiency certificate when the certificate has been found to contain an error;
    Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012
    in relation to: administration by the Greenhouse and Energy Minister Standards (GEMS) Regulator; compliance with requirements by suppliers of customised products; and defining classes of products in a GEMS determination;
    Olympic Insignia Protection Act 1987
    to: clarify that the International Olympic Committee and the Australian Olympic Committee can register their own insignia as trade marks; and provide for the rejection of applications to register trade marks not applied for by these bodies;
    Trade Marks Act 1995
    in relation to: alignment of grace periods for renewal of a trade mark; revocation and restoration of registration of a trade mark; and replacement of the Official Journal of Trade Marks;
    Patents Act 1990
    to remove spent transitional and savings provisions;
    Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005
    to: remove certain powers of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA); and require the minister to have regard to certain expertise when nominating a person for appointment to the ACMA; and
    Radiocommunications Act 1992
    to: remove certain requirements in relation to spectrum plans and frequency band plans, apparatus licences, variations and revocations of class licences and advisory guidelines; and provide for personal information to be excluded from public inspection and subject to confidentiality in circumstances that the ACMA considers appropriate. Also repeals the
    Cockatoo and Schnapper Islands Act 1949

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Terrorism Insurance Act 2003
    to: establish a framework for a cyclone and cyclone-related flood damage reinsurance pool by extending the operation of the terrorism reinsurance scheme administered by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC); and amend the title of the Act to the
    Terrorism and Cyclone Insurance Act 2003
    ; and
    Insurance Act 1973
    to create a civil penalty for insurers who do not reinsure eligible cyclone risks with the ARPC. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Income Tax Amendment (Labour Mobility Program) Bill 2022, the bill amends the:
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to enable the Commissioner of Taxation to direct an entity to complete an approved record-keeping course as an alternative to financial penalties where the commissioner reasonably believes the entity has failed to comply with its tax-related record-keeping obligations;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to make consequential amendments;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
    and
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to provide income tax and withholding tax exemptions for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and its wholly owned subsidiary established for the purpose of delivering the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: provide the choice to self assess the effective life of certain intangible depreciating assets rather than using the statutory effective life in working out the decline in value; and provide an income tax exemption for certain recovery grants made to small businesses and primary producers impacted by Cyclone Seroja in April 2021;
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    and
    Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001
    to: amend the existing unfair contract terms provisions; introduce a civil penalty regime prohibiting the use and reliance on unfair contract terms in standard form contracts; and expand the class of contracts covered by the unfair contract terms provisions; and
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    and three other taxation Acts to reduce the tax on certain income earned by foreign resident workers participating in the Australian Agriculture Worker Program or the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme from 32.5 per cent to 15 per cent. Also makes minor and technical amendments to 12 Acts administered in the Treasury, Social Services and Veterans' Affairs portfolios. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    08 Feb 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCKIM, Sen Nick 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006
    to require the government to introduce legislation by 30 September 2022 to: include designated services provided by lawyers, conveyancers, accountants, high-value dealers, real estate agents and trust and company service providers; and establish a public register that contains information about the ultimate beneficial ownership of companies registered under the
    Corporations Act 2001
    and certain other legal persons and legal arrangements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Australian Research Council Act 2001
    to: apply indexation to existing appropriation amounts for the financial years commencing on 1 July 2021, 1 July 2022 and 1 July 2023; and insert a new funding cap for the financial year commencing on 1 July 2024. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    to: list Avondale University as a Table B provider; amend the definition of a 'grandfathered student' to include students undertaking an honours course that is related to a course of study they commenced before 1 January 2021; enable the minister to make rules prescribing matters of a transitional nature; and allow for grants to be made that will support the translation and commercialisation of research by higher education providers. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Environment 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2021 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act 1995
    to: remove the cap on the rate that levies can be set at and provide for the rate of levy to be prescribed by regulations; and remove the levy on the import of equipment that operates using ozone depleting substances. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Environment 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2021 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995
    to remove the cap on the rate that levies can be set at and provide for the rate of levy to be prescribed by regulations. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Environment 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2021 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989
    in relation to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Program by: imposing controls that are currently imposed through licence conditions, such as the ban on import of bulk gas in non-refillable containers; clarifying licence and exemptions requirements; increasing the time allowed for submitting reports and payment levies; adopting the standard provisions of the
    Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014
    , including certain minor modifications; updating the offence and civil penalty provisions; introducing information gathering powers including the ability to issue a notice to produce; providing the option of licence suspension as an alternative to immediate cancellation of financial penalties; providing for an internal review mechanism for reviewable decisions; and allowing the use or disclosure of certain information. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
    to: introduce a no negative equity guarantee to the pension loans scheme; and enable participants to access an advance of their entitlement to regular pension loans scheme payments; and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to make a consequential amendment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    01 Dec 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCGRATH, Sen James 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: replace compulsory preferential voting with optional preferential voting for House of Representatives elections; enable voters to allocate preferences to candidates of their choosing only; provide vote saving provisions for voters who do not preference each and every candidate; provide for the position of candidates listed on House of Representatives ballots papers to be re-ordered between ballot papers (the Robson Rotation); and distribute batches of ballot papers which list each candidate in favourable positions equally. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    CHRISTENSEN, George, MP 
    Summary
    The bill: protects Australian journalists from detention and prosecution by foreign governments by defining journalism as including conduct engaged in the ordinary course of legitimate journalism, such as publishing and passively receiving information and conduct engaged in for the purpose of journalistic activity that would not be an offence in Australia; provides for offences for detaining Australians for legitimate journalistic activities; and provides that conduct engaged in by Julian Assange for the purpose of WikiLeaks is legitimate journalistic activity. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    29 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WHISH-WILSON, Sen Peter 
    Summary
    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. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture and Northern Australia 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Australian Animal Health Council (Live-stock Industries) Funding Act 1996
    to: facilitate the funding of emergency responses under emergency biosecurity response deeds other than the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement, including the proposed Emergency Response Deed for Aquatic Animal Diseases; provide for the Governor-General to make regulations prescribing certain matters; and remove redundant provisions that relate to honey, as honey-related levies are no longer paid to Animal Health Australia;
    Plant Health Australia (Plant Industries) Funding Act 2002
    to: broaden the scope of permissible uses for Emergency Plant Pest Response (EPPR) levies to include the promotion or maintenance of the health of an EPPR plant; provide for the secretary to determine by notifiable instrument a body in relation to a specified EPPR plant product; and remove redundant provisions that provide for the redirection of excess levies to research and development purposes; and
    Horticulture Marketing and Research and Development Services Act 2000
    and
    Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends: the
    Corporations Act 2001
    to establish a corporate collective investment vehicle (CCIV) as a new type of a company limited by shares that is used for funds management; the
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: specify the tax treatment for the CCIV regime; make amendments consequential on the commencement of the
    Commonwealth Registers Act 2020
    ; update the list of deductible gift recipients; and remove cessation of employment as a taxing point for employee share scheme interests which are subject to deferred taxation; the
    International Tax Agreements Act 1953
    to clarify that the priority rule is subject to the deeming principle; the
    Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001
    ,
    Personal Property Securities Act 2009
    ,
    A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999
    and
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to make consequential amendments in relation to the CCIV regime; the
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to enable eligible corporate tax entities to claim a loss carry back tax offset in the 2022-23 financial year; 10 Acts and one determination in the Treasury portfolio to make miscellaneous and technical amendments; and the
    Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
    to insert a new covenant that requires trustees of registrable superannuation entities to develop a retirement income strategy for beneficiaries who are retired or are approaching retirement. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Special Minister of State 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: extend the application of the foreign donations framework to current sitting members of the House of Representatives and Senators; require members of the House of Representatives and Senators who receive gifts for the purpose of incurring electoral expenditure or creating or communicating electoral matter to lodge an annual return with the Australian Electoral Commission; and extend the period for which a person is taken to be a candidate by an additional six months for the purpose of the disclosure period for candidate and Senate group returns and for restrictions on receiving foreign donations. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Responds to a recommendation of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters'
    Report on the conduct of the 2019 federal election and matters related thereto
    by amending the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to streamline the candidate qualification checklist relating to eligibility under section 44 of the Constitution and clarify when a response to a question is mandatory. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 and Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021, the bill amends the:
    Age Discrimination Act 2004
    ,
    Disability Discrimination Act 1992
    ,
    Sex Discrimination Act 1984
    and
    Racial Discrimination Act 1975
    to amend or insert objects clauses to provide that, in giving effect to the objects of each Act, regard must be had to the indivisibility and universality of human rights and their equal status in international law, and the principle that every person is free and equal in their dignity and rights;
    Charities Act 2013
    to provide that otherwise charitable entities that engage in lawful activities promoting a traditional view of marriage are undertaking those activities for the public benefit and not contrary to public policy; and
    Marriage Act 1961
    to allow religious educational institutions to refuse to provide facilities, goods or services in relation to the solemnisation of a marriage in accordance with their religious beliefs. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Intelligence Services Act 2001
    to: enable the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) to undertake activities to produce intelligence where there is, or is likely to be, an imminent risk to the safety of an Australian person; enable ASIS, ASD and AGO to seek ministerial authorisation to produce intelligence on a class of Australian persons who are, or are likely to be, involved with a listed terrorist organisation; enable ASD and AGO to seek ministerial authorisation to undertake activities to produce intelligence on an Australian person, or class of persons, where they are assisting the Australian Defence Force in support of military operations; amend the requirement for ASIS, ASD and AGO to obtain ministerial authorisation to produce intelligence on an Australian person to circumstances where the agencies seek to use covert and intrusive methods which include methods for which the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) would require a warrant to conduct inside Australia; clarify the requirement for ASIS, ASD and AGO to seek ministerial authorisation before requesting a foreign partner agency to produce intelligence on an Australian person; remove the geographic limit requiring that ASIS activities undertaken to support ASIO in the performance of its functions be conducted outside Australia; provide that, for the purposes of carrying out its non-intelligence functions, AGO is not required to seek ministerial approval for cooperation with authorities of other countries; clarify the meaning of authorities of other countries; and make technical amendments;
    Office of National Intelligence Act 2018
    to require the Office of National Intelligence to obtain Director-General approval when undertaking cooperation with public international organisations;
    Australian Passports Act 2005
    and
    Foreign Passports (Law Enforcement and Security) Act 2005
    to extend the period for passport suspension and foreign travel document surrender from 14 to 28 days;
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to extend immunity provided to staff of ASIS and AGO for computer-related acts done outside Australia to acts which inadvertently affected a computer or device located outside Australia;
    Intelligence Services Act 2001
    ,
    Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986
    and
    Office of National Intelligence Act 2018
    in relation to privacy rules of ASIS, ASD, AGO and Defence Intelligence Organisation;
    Crimes Act 1914
    to allow ASD to participate in the assumed identities scheme; and
    Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979
    and
    Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
    to: approve a class of persons to exercise the authority conferred by an ASIO warrant; clarify the permissible scope of classes; and introduce certain record-keeping requirements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 and Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the:
    Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
    to: extend the Australian Human Rights Commission’s complaints-handling functions to complaints of unlawful religious discrimination under the
    Religious Discrimination Act 2021
    , when enacted; and establish the Religious Discrimination Commissioner as a member of the commission;
    Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
    and
    Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986
    to allow the Inspector-General to inquire into acts or practices of intelligence agencies that may be inconsistent with or contrary to the
    Religious Discrimination Act 2021
    , referred by the Australian Human Rights Commission;
    Civil Aviation Act 1988
    to provide that civil aviation regulations may be inconsistent with the
    Religious Discrimination Act 2021
    if necessary for the safety of air navigation;
    Fair Work Act 2009
    (FWA) to recognise the
    Religious Discrimination Act 2021
    as an anti-discrimination law for the purposes of the FWA’s general protection provisions;
    Sea Installations Act 1987
    (SIA) to recognise the
    Religious Discrimination Act 2021
    as an anti-discrimination law for the purposes of the SIA; and
    Religious Discrimination Act 2021
    to make amendments contingent on the commencement of the
    Equal Opportunity (Religious Exceptions) Amendment Act 2021
    (Vic). 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021 and Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, the bill: prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person’s religious belief or activity in a range of areas of public life, including in relation to employment, education, access to premises and the provision of goods, services and accommodation; establishes general and specific exceptions from the prohibition of religious discrimination; provides that certain statements of belief do not constitute discrimination for the purposes of certain specified Commonwealth, state or territory anti-discrimination laws; creates offences in relation to victimisation and discriminatory advertisements; establishes the office of the Religious Discrimination Commissioner; confers certain functions on the Australian Human Rights Commission; and provides for miscellaneous matters including delegation of powers or functions, protection from civil actions and a review of the operation of the Act. 

    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
    24 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Customs Act 1901
    to enable time-limited trials of trade and customs practices with approved entities in a controlled regulatory environment; and
    Australian Border Force Act 2015
    to prevent the Comptroller-General of Customs from delegating their powers to make rules in relation to controlled trials. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to: establish new criminal offences and civil penalties that apply where a person coerces or exerts undue influence or pressure on a non-citizen to accept or agree to certain work arrangements; establish a power to prohibit, for a specified period of time, employers who are subject to a specified migrant worker sanction from allowing additional non-citizens to begin work; require employers and third party providers to use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system to verify prospective non-citizen workers' immigration status and work-related visa conditions prior to employment; align and increase penalties for certain work-related offences and contraventions or work-related civil penalty provisions; provide the Australian Border Force with regulatory powers in relation to compliance notices and enforceable undertakings for work-related breaches; and enable the minister to delegate their functions and powers in relation to enforceable undertakings. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    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. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    23 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    GRIFF, Sen Stirling 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Health Insurance Act 1973
    to enable the minister to make rules to establish and maintain a public register of statistical information relating to surgical procedures and patient outcomes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    22 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    SHARKIE, Rebekha, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Customs Act 1901
    to prohibit the importation into Australia of goods that are produced in whole or in part by forced labour. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    22 Nov 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    ALBANESE, Anthony, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Fair Work Act 2009
    to ensure all workers employed through labour hire companies will receive the same wage as employees employed directly. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Special Minister of State 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: respond to a recommendation of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters'
    Report on the conduct of the 2016 federal election and matters related thereto
    by requiring the Electoral Commissioner to implement certain processes to assure the security and accuracy of the computer systems (including the systems for scanning ballot papers and counting votes) used to scrutinise votes for a Senate election; clarify the process for resolving candidate ties; clarify that the 'bulk exclusion' process is not required to be used in the computerised scrutiny process; allow a scrutineer to request access to an original ballot paper to resolve a question about formality or a preference vote being counted in the scrutiny of a Senate election; and require the Electoral Commissioner to publish Senate election data for each formal ballot case in the election within 7 days of the return of the writ for a Senate election. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Special Minister of State 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: implement certain recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters'
    Report of the inquiry on the future conduct of elections operating during times of emergency situations
    by enabling the Electoral Commissioner to make limited operational modifications by legislative instrument where an emergency declaration has been issued under a Commonwealth law and moving the existing power to adjourn or suspend polling at a polling place or pre-poll voting office from local polling booth presiding officers to the Electoral Commissioner; delay the commencement of the scrutiny for a House of Representatives election for a Division where polling has been adjourned or temporarily suspended; prevent scrutineers and Australian Electoral Commission officers from disclosing the results of a Senate election in a Division where polling has been adjourned; and make minor amendments in relation to the cut-off date for postal vote applications and the format of postal vote certificates. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Special Minister of State 
    Summary
    Responds to recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters' reports into the conduct of the 2013, 2016 and 2019 elections by amending the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to require voters to provide an acceptable form of identification, or alternatively an attestation from another enrolled person who does have an acceptable form of identification, in order to cast an ordinary pre-poll or polling day vote in federal elections and referendums. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Financial Sector Reform (Hayne Royal Commission Response No. 3) Bill 2021, Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2021 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2021, 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. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2021, Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2021 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2021, the bill amends: 12 Acts to make amendments consequential on the new financial accountability regime;
    Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998
    and
    Banking Act 1959
    to make amendments consequential on the end of the banking executive accountability regime; and the
    Corporations Act 2001
    ,
    Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001
    and
    National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
    to establish the financial services compensation scheme of last resort to provide compensation to eligible consumers where the Australian Financial Complaints Authority has made a determination in their favour that remains unpaid. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2021, Financial Sector Reform (Hayne Royal Commission Response No. 3) Bill 2021 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2021, the bill provides for the collection and administration of the levy imposed by the
    Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Act 2021

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2021, Financial Sector Reform (Hayne Royal Commission Response No. 3) Bill 2021 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2021, the bill imposes a levy on certain industry entities to recover the cost of the compensation scheme of last resort. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    National Disability Insurance Scheme 
    Summary
    Implements certain recommendations of the 2019 review of the
    National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013
    (the Tune review) by amending the: National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 to establish the Participant Service Guarantee to provide timeframes and engagement principles for how the National Disability Insurance Agency undertakes key administrative processes; enable participant’s plans to be varied without requiring a full plan review; amend the objects and principles of the Act; clarify the eligibility criteria for people with psychosocial disability; streamline certain administrative processes for participants; provide clarity in relation to decisions about plan management requests and extend the risk assessment process for self-management of funding to those using registered plan management providers; enable the National Disability Insurance Agency to make direct payments on behalf of participants; and remove redundant provisions and make technical amendments; and
    DisabilityCare Australia Fund Act 2013
    to make a consequential amendment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    National Health Act 1953
    to: provide for price reductions on the fifth, tenth and fifteenth anniversary of a drug listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and when the first new brand of a drug lists on the PBS; retain ministerial discretion to ensure that the minister can intervene if a legislated price reduction were to have an unintended consequence; and establish a price reduction floor, and stockholding requirements, for certain PBS listed brands that may be susceptible to global medicines shortages; and
    National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits—Budget and Other Measures) Act 2018
    to remove redundant provisions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Implements the government's response to the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services' inquiry into litigation funding and the regulation of the class action industry by amending the
    Corporations Act 2001
    to: establish a new kind of managed investment scheme called a class action litigation funding scheme; and introduce additional requirements for the constitutions of managed investment schemes that are class action litigation funding schemes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Provides a further response to the final report of the second year review of the National Redress Scheme by amending the
    National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018
    to: extend the funder of last resort arrangements to encompass non-defunct institutions that are unable to participate in the scheme, and defunct institutions with which participating jurisdictions do not share responsibility for abuse and there is no parent institution to take responsibility; and provide the scheme operator with specific authority to disclose certain protected information about non-participating institutions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992
    to remove the $450-a-month threshold before an employee's salary or wages count towards the superannuation guarantee;
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to increase the limit on the maximum amount of voluntary contributions made over multiple financial years that are eligible to be released under the First Home Super Saver Scheme from $30 000 to $50 000;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: enable individuals aged 60 and above to make downsizer contributions to their superannuation plan from the proceeds of selling their home; apply the work test to individuals aged between 67 and 75 who claim a deduction for personal superannuation contributions and allow such individuals to make or receive non-concessional superannuation contributions under the bring forward rule; and enable superannuation trustees to choose their preferred method of calculating exempt current pension income when they have member interests in both accumulation and retirement phases for part, but not all, of the income year; and
    Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997
    to extend the temporary full expensing regime to 30 June 2023. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    SHARKIE, Rebekha, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aged Care Act 1997
    to: enable aged care recipients to access clear information regarding the administrative and management fees charged for home care services; ensure that home care charges are spent on home care services provided rather than on administrative or management charges for provision of those services; enable aged care recipients to exit a home care agreement without financial penalty; and access relevant information regarding the costs of home care packages by approved providers in their local area when looking to enter into a home care agreement. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HAINES, Helen, MP 
    Summary
    The bill: establishes the Australian Federal Integrity Commission as an independent public sector anti-corruption commission for the Commonwealth; provides for the appointment, functions and powers of the Federal Integrity Commissioner, Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner, Whistleblower Protection Commissioner and Assistant Federal Integrity Commissioners; establishes the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Federal Integrity Commission; establishes the Parliamentary Inspector of the Australian Federal Integrity Commission; and makes consequential amendments to the
    Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006
    ,
    Ombudsman Act 1976
    and
    Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    BANDT, Adam, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Customs Act 1901
    to limit and prohibit the importation and exportation of thermal coal unless it is being used for research, analysis or display from 2030; and
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    to: prohibit the establishment of new coal mines or coal-fired power stations; prohibit the mining or burning of coal after 1 January 2030; and make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HAINES, Helen, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: require registered political parties including state branches, individual political candidates, groups of political candidates or associated entities to: disclose all cumulative donations received equal or above $1000 (non-indexed) from the same person or entity on a quarterly basis to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC); and disclose all cumulative donations received equal or above the indexed AEC threshold ($14 500) from the same person or entity within five business days of receiving the donations; and require the Electoral Commissioner to publish all disclosures on the AEC Transparency Register. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    STEGGALL, Zali, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: prohibit misleading and deceptive political advertising during federal elections; prohibit political parties, candidates and campaigners from impersonating or passing off material as being from another candidate; and create a complaints process through the Australian Electoral Commissioner who may order a retraction of the statement or apology to the affected party. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    BANDT, Adam, MP 
    Summary
    Prevents Commonwealth, state or territory authorities from using or providing COVID-19 check in data for law enforcement purposes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HILL, Julian, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to: provide that the cashless debit card regime sunsets on 31 January 2022; require the minister to prepare a local services and jobs plan in conjunction with communities where the cashless debit card regime is in operation; and require the minister to publish the full cost to the Commonwealth of the operation of the cashless debit card regime, all contracts between the Commonwealth and Indue Ltd and all documents relating to the Cashless Debit Card Technology Working Group. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WEBSTER, Anne, MP 
    Summary
    Enables the minister to set basic expectations of social media service providers regarding the hosting of defamatory material on social media platforms, and ensures that service providers are liable for defamatory material hosted on their platforms which is not removed within a reasonable timeframe. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    SHARKIE, Rebekha, MP 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to require that voice calls communicating an electoral matter to a person must identify the use of any actors at the beginning of the call; and
    Spam Act 2003
    to require political parties to provide an unsubscribe function for all unsolicited electronic communications containing political content. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    21 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    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. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    21 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    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
    21 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resourses 
    Summary
    Further to the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021 and the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021, the bill amends the:
    Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
    to: extend the operation of the Act to provide that a person commits an offence if a regulated entity interferes with offshore infrastructure activities; clarify the dual role of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) in regulating the Act and the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure framework, including in relation to NOPSEMA's duties, money and annual reporting requirements; and clarify that the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator may also be appointed as the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar; and
    Coral Sea Islands Act 1969
    ,
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    ,
    Sea Installations Act 1987
    and
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    21 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends: the
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    to: define Telstra successor companies and designated Telstra successor entities and replace references to Telstra with references to the successor entities; allow the Minister and Australian Communications and Media Authority to make determinations relating to the designated successor entities; and make technical and consequential amendments; Telstra Corporation Act 2001 to extend existing regulations relating to the operation and ownership of Telstra to its successor entities; the
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to: extend existing regulations relating to the operation and ownership of Telstra to its successor entities; and make consequential amendments; the
    Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999
    to: extend the Minister's powers to impose service provider obligations to Telstra's successor entities and retail price controls on each successor entity; and make consequential technical amendments; and amends three regulations, four determinations and a code of access in relation to ownership of Telstra shares, access to telecommunications infrastructure, carrier licence conditions, emergency call persons and services, real estate development exemptions, arbitration and sunsetting. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    21 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Veterans’ Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends: nine Acts to: exempt certain payments, known as the adjusted disability pension, from the social security income test; and remove the Defence Force Income Support Allowance; the
    Veterans' Entitlement Act 1986
    to: remove the disability income rent test; replace references to 'disability pension' with references that clarify the nature of the payment as a compensation payment; and adjust the mechanism for indexation of certain payments; and the
    Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
    to establish a non-liability rehabilitation pilot to provide veterans with access to rehabilitation support without the requirement to have lodged a compensation claim. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

What is a bill?

A bill is a proposal for a law or a change to an existing law. A bill becomes law (an Act) when agreed to in identical form by both houses of Parliament and assented to by the Governor-General.