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TOTAL RESULTS: 657

  • 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    20 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    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 the Whistleblower Protection Special Account; 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
    20 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCKIM, Sen Nick 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to enable uniform and automatic extensions to time-limited temporary visa subclasses, where the visa holder has been unable to enter Australia due to travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    20 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    GRIFF, Sen Stirling 
    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
    20 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends 41 Acts to replace provisions that require forms to be prescribed by regulations and reflect modern drafting practices, such as providing for the forms to be approved by a specified person or body, by notifiable instrument, or enabling regulations to directly mandate the requirements themselves rather than requiring particular forms. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    01 Sep 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aged Care Act 1997
    to require all approved aged care facilities to have at least one registered nurse on duty at all times to provide care and supervise the provision of care to residents of approved aged care facilities. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    01 Sep 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    ROBERTS, Sen Malcolm 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: provide for the routine independent auditing of authorised electronic technology used at federal elections; and require voter identification for electors to vote in federal elections; and
    Intelligence Services Act 2001
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    KENEALLY, Sen Kristina 
    Summary
    Establishes a mandatory requirement for Commonwealth, state or territory entities, corporations and partnerships to report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre ransomware payments paid in response to a ransomware attack. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    RICE, Sen Janet 
    Summary
    The bill: provides for either House of Parliament, or certain parliamentary committees, to request the minister to table a statement on whether autonomous sanctions will be applied to persons that are responsible for serious human rights abuses or corruption; requires the minister to table in both Houses a statement on whether autonomous sanctions will be applied to certain persons responsible for the coup in Myanmar in 2021; and provides for a review of the operation of the Act. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    05 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    KENEALLY, Sen Kristina 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Fair Work Act 2009
    to ensure that parents of stillborn babies can access the same employer-paid paid parental leave that they would be entitled to regardless of whether the pregnancy ended in a stillbirth or a live birth. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCMAHON, Sen Sam 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978
    to remove limits on the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly's powers to make laws in relation to the acquisition of property other than on just terms, voluntary assisted dying and the conferring of powers relating to the hearing and determining of employment disputes. Also repeals the
    Euthanasia Laws Act 1997

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    GALLAGHER, Sen Katy 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
    to provide for reporting and tabling requirements for certain grants which have been approved by a minister based on an application which an official has recommended should be rejected or does not meet relevant selection criteria or which have been approved by a minister, who is a member of the House of Representatives, for a grantee in their electorate. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    03 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    KITCHING, Sen Kimberley 
    Summary
    Based on the precedents of the
    Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act 2016
    (US) and the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2018 (UK), the bill provides the minister with the discretion to impose certain sanctions for the purposes of compliance with United Nations obligations or other international obligations, or for the purposes of preventing or responding to gross human rights abuse or violations, or acts of significant corruption. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    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
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010
    to: enable the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) to report on own-motion inquiries in standalone reports; provide that the INSLM's annual report may include information relating to the performance of the INSLM's functions in relation to a referral from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; specify reporting arrangements for statutory reviews conducted by the INSLM; provide a framework for the engagement of staff (including contractors) to assist the INSLM in the performance of its functions or exercise of its powers; and provide current and former staff of the INSLM with certain legal protections during the course of assisting the INSLM with performing functions or exercising powers of the INSLM. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    21 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCKIM, Sen Nick 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
    to: delay businesses with an annual turnover of more than $50 million from claiming GST credits for ten years, or until they pay back the amount of Jobkeeper payment they received equal to the amount of profits made and/or executive bonuses paid during the financial year in which the entity received the payment; and require the Australian Taxation Office to publish a list of all entities with an annual turnover of more than $50 million in receipt of Jobkeeper payments and how much each entity received. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WATERS, Sen Larissa 
    Summary
    Establishes an inquiry into whether Christian Porter is a fit and proper person to be a Minister of State. 

    Bill

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 May 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    Summary
    The bill: repeals the
    Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements—High Risk Country Travel Pause) Determination 2021
    ; and amends the
    Biosecurity Act 2015
    to prevent the Minister for Health from making a determination or giving a direction that prevents or restricts an Australian citizen or permanent resident outside Australia from returning to Australia. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Mar 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    National Health Act 1953
    to: establish the statutory authority for the publication of information in relation to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, including meeting agendas, meeting outcomes, public summary documents and information published on the Medicine Status Website; and provide for cost recovery arrangements, including specifying fees for services and costs incurred to be set out in a disallowable legislative instrument, replacing the existing regulations; and make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Dec 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    RICE, Sen Janet 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    COAG Reform Fund Act 2008
    to establish a new condition on financial assistance provided by the Commonwealth government to neutralise the revenue effect of taxes and charges imposed by states and territories on the purchase and use of electric vehicles; and
    Fuel Indexation (Road Funding) Special Account Act 2015
    to make a consequential amendment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Dec 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCALLISTER, Sen Jenny 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Fair Work Act 2009
    to: provide for ten days paid domestic and family violence leave in a 12-month period; provide for employees to access paid domestic and family violence leave at their base pay rate for usual hours of work in the period the leave was taken; enable an employee and employer to agree additional paid or unpaid leave can be taken in addition to the 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave; clarify and expand the reasons for which a person can take paid domestic and family violence leave; and strengthen the privacy obligations placed on employers in relation to an employee who takes paid family and domestic violence leave. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    08 Dec 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Customs Act 1901
    to prohibit the importation into Australia of goods from Xinjiang province in the People's Republic of China as well as goods from other parts of China that are produced by using forced labour. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Nov 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCALLISTER, Sen Jenny 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to provide that the department secretary may not make deductions from social security payments if the deductions relate to goods hired under a consumer lease entered into by a social security recipient. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Nov 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    KENEALLY, Sen Kristina 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to replace current Maritime Crew Visas with two new categories of visa: the International Seafarers Transit Visa for entering Australia on a continuing international voyage only; and the International Seafarers Work Visa for international seafarers to be engaged on ships authorised under a temporary license to undertake coastal voyages under the
    Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Oct 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    SIEWERT, Sen Rachel 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act 2020
    and
    Social Security Act 1991
    to maintain the coronavirus supplement at the rate of $550 per fortnight for recipients of jobseeker payment, partner allowance, widow allowance, youth allowance, austudy, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, parenting payment, farm household allowance, and special benefit; and
    Social Security Act 1991
    to extend the coronavirus supplement to recipients of disability support pensions and age pensions who receive Commonwealth rent assistance. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Oct 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Judges' Pensions Act 1968
    to cease the payment of a retired judge's pension where they have engaged in serious misconduct while serving as a judge. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Oct 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    STEELE-JOHN, Sen Jordon 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Royal Commissions Act 1902
    to apply the limits on the use and disclosure of information given to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability (the commission) in private session, and the restrictions on the ability of such private session information to be used in evidence against the person who gave the information, to information given to the commission for purposes other than in a private session, where the commission has indicated the information is to be treated as confidential and has treated it as such; and
    Freedom of Information Act 1982
    to make a consequential amendment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Sep 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    O'NEILL, Sen Deborah 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Competition and Consumer (Industry Codes—Franchising) Regulation 2014
    to: enable the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman to appoint a mediation and franchising adviser to assist in resolving franchising disputes where mediation has failed, or where both parties agree to arbitration; and give the ombudsman the power to assist with multi-party mediation and arbitration in franchising disputes where multiple parties have identical issues that require resolution;
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to increase the civil penalties provisions for breaching the Franchising Code of Conduct; and
    Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Act 2015
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Aug 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    GRIFF, Sen Stirling 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Interactive Gambling Act 2001
    to: prevent interactive gambling service providers from accepting payments by credit card (either directly or indirectly); create a criminal offence and civil penalty provision for a person who accepts, facilitates or promotes credit card payments for interactive gambling services; and provide for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to enforce and review the new requirements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Jun 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WATERS, Sen Larissa 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: prohibit political donations from property developers, the tobacco industry, the banking industry, liquor and gambling businesses, pharmaceutical companies, the mining industry and representative organisations for these industries; imposes a cumulative limit on political donations from any source of $3000 per election term; and extend the definition of 'gift' to include subscription and membership fees, as well as attendance at fundraising events. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
     
    Summary
    Amends the
    Fair Work Act 2009
    to enable the Fair Work Commission to deal with disputes between employers and employees regarding the eligibility of an employee to receive the JobKeeper payment during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Jun 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    GRIFF, Sen Stirling 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Aged Care Act 1997
    to require residential aged care providers to disclose their income, costs of food and medication, staff and staff training, accommodation, administration and monies paid to parent bodies in annual financial transparency reports to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner; and
    Corporations Act 2001
    to ensure residential aged care providers include detailed financial information in annual financial statements. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Jun 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCCARTHY, Sen Malarndirri
    FARRELL, Sen Don 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to provide for a minimum of two divisions in the Northern Territory in the House of Representatives. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Jun 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WATERS, Sen Larissa 
    Summary
    The bill: creates the Coronavirus Economic Support and Recovery Fund to invest in the arts and entertainment, manufacturing, and the renewable energy and electricity transmission sectors; and amends the:
    Social Security Act 1991
    to expand eligibility for the COVID-19 supplement to recipients of the disability support payment and carer payment;
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to expand eligibility of the jobseeker payment to Australian resident temporary visa holders; and
    Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
    to establish rules for the jobkeeper scheme to: extend potential eligibility for the scheme to all casual employees, regardless of their period of employment, temporary visa holders, and intermittent workers with a demonstrated income history; include certain entities owned by overseas governments as eligible employers, and higher education providers as eligible employers; and enable prompt back payment of newly eligible employees and employers. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    14 May 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    RICE, Sen Janet 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Australian Sports Commission Act 1989
    to provide for the Australian Sports Commission to fund applications that were submitted to the Community Sports Infrastructure Grants program and recommended to the Minister for Sports for funding, but subsequently not funded under the program. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 May 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    FARUQI, Sen Mehreen 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Fair Work Act 2009
    to: provide for 14 days paid COVID-19 leave for all workers, including part-time, casual and gig economy workers; and enable the Fair Work Commission to make COVID-19 leave orders to extend provisions in the Act to all workers, such as gig economy workers. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Feb 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    ROBERTS, Sen Malcolm 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Banking Act 1959
    to: provide that the conversion and write-off provisions do not extend to the bail-in of deposit accounts; and provide that nothing in the Act or other Commonwealth legislation gives the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority the power to implement, authorise or direct the implementation of bail-in of deposit accounts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Feb 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    MCALLISTER, Sen Jenny 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986
    and
    Intelligence Services Act 2001
    to expand the oversight role of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) to the Australian Federal Police, Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Office of National Intelligence (ONI);
    Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010
    and
    Intelligence Services Act 2001
    to enable the PJCIS to request briefings and reports from the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor; and
    Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986
    and
    Office of National Intelligence Act 2018
    to require regular briefings to be given to the PJCIS by the IGIS and ONI. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 Feb 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    to introduce penalties for an individual or body corporate undertaking actions which involve mining operations, drilling exploration, land clearing or is specified in the regulations (emissions-intensive actions) if the action has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    05 Feb 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    LAMBIE, Sen Jacqui 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: extend the definition of reporting entities to include political entities, campaigners, associated entities and third parties; lower the political donation disclosure threshold from $14 000 to $2500; require disclosure by reporting entities and donors when the sum of the gifts and donations provided by the same donor to the same reporting entity is greater than the disclosure threshold; require disclosure by reporting entities within 7 days of a reportable gift being made, and require disclosure within 7 days of any subsequent gifts until the end of the reporting period; require reporting entities to lodge half-yearly returns with details of the nature and source of all reportable donations and other receipts; require reporting entities to hold an electoral expenditure account with an authorised deposit-taking institution, from which all electoral expenditure must be paid; increase the monitoring and investigatory powers of the Australian Electoral Commission; and provide for infringement notices and civil penalty provisions for reporting entities that fail to meet their disclosure obligations. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    05 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    STERLE, Sen Glenn 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
    to require masters of certain vessels to conduct two headcounts of passengers, one at the start of a voyage and one at the end. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    KENEALLY, Sen Kristina 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Telecommunications Act 1997
    to: clarify actions that designated communications providers must not be requested or required to do in technical assistance requests, technical assistance notices or technical capability notices; require the Australian Federal Police Commissioner not to approve technical assistance notices issued by the chief officer of state or territory interception agencies unless satisfied that the requirements of the notice are reasonable and proportionate, and compliance with the notice is practicable and technically feasible; remove the ability of the minister to edit and delete information in relevant reports prepared by the Commonwealth Ombudsman; and insert a judicial authorisation requirement in the approval or varying of technical assistance requests, technical assistance notices or technical capability notices. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends: the
    Criminal Code Act 1995
    to: amend the offence of bribery of a foreign public official to extend the definition of foreign public official to include a candidate for office, remove the requirement that the foreign official must be influenced in the exercise of the official's duties, replace the requirement that a benefit and business advantage must be 'not legitimately due' with the concept of 'improperly influencing' a foreign public official, and extend the offence to cover bribery to obtain a personal advantage; and create a new offence of failure of a body corporate to prevent foreign bribery by an associate; the
    Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983
    to implement a Commonwealth Deferred Prosecution Agreement scheme to enable the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to invite a person that has engaged in serious corporate crime to negotiate an agreement to comply with a range of specified conditions; and five Acts to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    GRIFF, Sen Stirling
    MCALLISTER, Sen Jenny 
    Summary
    Amends the
    National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
    to: impose a cap on the total payments that can be made under a consumer lease (known as rent-to-buy schemes); require small amount credit contracts (SACCs) (known as payday loans) to have equal repayment and payment intervals; remove the ability for SACC providers to charge monthly fees in respect of the residual term of a loan where a consumer fully repays the loan early; prevent lessors and credit assistance providers from undertaking door-to-door selling of leases at residential homes; introduce anti-avoidance protections; and increase penalties. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    GALLAGHER, Sen Katy 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
    to require the Department of Finance to state in its annual report the number of waivers of debt granted and act of grace payments made, and the total dollar amount of debt waived and act of grace payments made. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Dec 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to: require the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to determine a base minimum price for milk for each dairy season; require the minister to refer to the Productivity Commission for inquiry the effectiveness of determining a base price for milk and the potential effectiveness of a divestiture regime for the dairy industry; and establish a mandatory industry code for the food and grocery industry, including the dairy industry. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Nov 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    FARRELL, Sen Don 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: lower the political donation disclosure threshold from $13 800 to $1000; and remove the indexation of the disclosure threshold. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 Nov 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    FARRELL, Sen Don 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to require political parties and their associated entities, candidates, and Senate groups to provide a disclosure return to the Australian Electoral Commission of all political donations and gift received at or above the disclosure threshold of $14 000 within seven days of receiving the donation or gift. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 Nov 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    SIEWERT, Sen Rachel 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Governor-General Act 1974
    to cease the payment of allowances to a former Governor-General, or a spouse of a former Governor-General, where they have engaged in serious misconduct. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 Nov 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
    and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to impose disclosure, consideration and reporting requirements on government agencies and Commonwealth entities entering into contracts with companies or providing grants to persons or companies that are, or have related entities, domiciled in prescribed tax havens. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    17 Oct 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WATERS, Sen Larissa 
    Summary
    The bill: provides for statutory codes of conduct for the members of each house of parliament and their staff; creates a statutory basis for parliamentarians’ registers of interests; establishes a Parliamentary Integrity Advisor to provide independent, confidential advice and guidance to parliamentarians and their staff in relation to the applicable codes of conduct; and establishes a Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to assist in the assessment, investigation and resolution of alleged breaches of the applicable codes of conduct. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Oct 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to: require the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to determine a base minimum price for milk for each dairy season; require the minister to refer to the Productivity Commission for inquiry the effectiveness of determining a base price for milk and the potential effectiveness of a divestiture regime for the dairy industry; and establish a mandatory industry code for the food and grocery industry, including the dairy industry. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Sep 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    Requires separating couples to self-assess and narrow their family law disputes promptly within a defined statutory time frame. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Sep 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    WHISH-WILSON, Sen Peter 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Product Stewardship Act 2011
    to: establish a mandatory product stewardship scheme for manufacturers, importers and distributors of consumer packaging and certain single-use plastics; and prescribe targets, prohibitions, design and labelling requirements, and financial contributions in relation to packaging and products identified under the scheme. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    10 Sep 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    PATRICK, Sen Rex 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Customs Act 1901
    to prohibit the importation of polyethylene core aluminium composite panels. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Jul 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    The bill: prohibits mining activities, including prospecting or exploring for minerals or other geological material, in the Great Australian Bight marine area; establishes civil penalties for mining in the Bight; and requires the minister to submit the Great Australian Bight for consideration as a World Heritage Site. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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.