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TOTAL RESULTS: 657

  • 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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

  • Date
    20 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Corporations Act 2001
    to: establish a permanent mechanism to allow companies and registered schemes to hold hybrid (in person and remote) meetings; and use technology to execute, sign and share company and meeting related documents. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    20 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Laminaria and Corallina Decommissioning Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2021, the bill imposes a temporary levy on offshore petroleum production to recover the Commonwealth's costs of decommissioning the Laminaria and Corallina oil fields and associated infrastructure. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    20 Oct 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Offshore Petroleum (Laminaria and Corallina Decommissioning Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    ,
    Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Assessment Act 1987
    and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to specify certain administrative features relating to the Laminaria and Corallina decommissioning levy, including the requirement that the levy is payable to the Commissioner of Taxation annually. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Sep 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021 to facilitate and regulate the development of electricity infrastructure in Commonwealth waters, the bill imposes an offshore electricity infrastructure levy on offshore electricity infrastructure licence holders or those engaging in offshore infrastructure activities prescribed by regulations. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Sep 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Bill 2021 to facilitate and regulate the development of electricity infrastructure in Commonwealth waters, the bill: prohibits offshore renewable energy infrastructure and offshore electricity transmission infrastructure in the Commonwealth offshore area without a licence; provides for the minister to declare specified areas suitable for offshore infrastructure activities and to grant licences allowing proponents to undertake offshore infrastructure activities in specified areas; provides for safety and protection zones to protect offshore electricity infrastructure; establishes the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar to administer the licensing scheme, including maintaining a register of licences and managing the licence application process; identifies the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority as the Offshore Infrastructure Regulator with work health and safety, environmental management, infrastructure integrity and regulatory functions; provides for directions, compliance and enforcement powers; and provides for the protection of worker safety through modified application of the
    Work Health and Safety Act 2011

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    01 Sep 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Indigenous Australians 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to provide for a supplementary payment to be made to eligible job seekers in remote engagement program pilot communities so that they can engage in activities or placements that are like having a job;
    Social Security Act 1991
    to make amendments contingent on the commencement of the
    Social Security Legislation Amendment (Streamlined Participation Requirements and Other Measures) Act 2021
    ; and
    Age Discrimination Act 2004
    ,
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to remove redundant provisions relating to the former Community Development Employment Projects Scheme. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Health Insurance Act 1973
    to: enable eligible legacy scheme participants to apply for an extended compliance determination to allow them an additional period of time to complete their return of service obligation; allow a person, in the event of serious disability or death, to cease to be a bonded participant under the program, without penalty; apply administrative penalties when bonded participants fail to produce information or documents within prescribed timeframes; and enable administration of inadvertent and minor breaches of Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship contracts with the Commonwealth. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    National Health Act 1953
    to enable the minister to enter into arrangements and make payments in relation to procuring COVID-19 vaccines (including boosters), treatments for COVID-19 and consumables related to the use of such vaccines and treatments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Implements certain recommendations of 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: provide for advance payments of $10 000 to elderly or terminally ill applicants, or where there are other exceptional circumstances for particularly vulnerable people; change the date for which the indexation of relevant prior payments is calculated; extend the acceptance period of a redress offer after it has expired and provide for the period within which to seek a review to be aligned with any extension to the acceptance period; remove the requirement for an application to include a statutory declaration; and provide for redress payments and counselling and psychological care payments to be made in instalments rather than as a lump sum, if requested by an applicant. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Indigenous Australians 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme (Facilitation) Bill 2021 to facilitate the implementation of certain aspects of the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, the bill amends the:
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to provide that redress payments are exempt from income tax;
    Bankruptcy Act 1966
    to provide that redress payments are not available to creditors of recipients for the purposes of recovering money under bankruptcy proceedings;
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
    to ensure that redress payments do not count as income for the purposes of any income support payments; and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to authorise the use of protected information. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Indigenous Australians 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021 to facilitate the implementation of certain aspects of the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, the bill: provides that the receipt of a redress payment does not affect a person's eligibility for any pension, benefit, payment or service under a law of the Commonwealth or require the repayment of an amount to the Commonwealth; and provides that the redress payment cannot be transferred to another person, either by voluntary act or by operation of law. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Indigenous Australians 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
    to: establish the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation to invest in Aboriginal business and commercial projects and make other payments for the benefit of Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory (NT); amend exploration and mining processes on Aboriginal land in the NT; prescribe the nomination and approval processes and funding arrangements for approved entities that may hold a township lease; provide that land councils may enter into agreements in respect of land that is the subject of a deed of grant held in escrow; increase the amount at which land councils must seek ministerial approval to enter into a contract; remove the requirement that certain permits may only be revoked by the issuer of the permit; increase penalties for unauthorised access to Aboriginal land; remove redundant powers which allow for the delegation of land council functions to certain corporations; and make technical amendments in relation to the Aboriginals Benefit Account. 

    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
    25 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
    to: enable the Director-General of Security to apply for a warrant authorising the interception of a communication for the purpose of obtaining foreign intelligence from foreign communications; provide that foreign intelligence information provided in certain circumstances may be used for purposes as approved by the Attorney-General; and make technical amendments; and
    Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979
    and
    Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979
    to enable the Attorney-General to issue foreign intelligence warrants to collect foreign intelligence on Australians in Australia who are acting for, or on behalf of, a foreign power. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Paid Parental Leave Act 2010
    to provide that a person in receipt of a COVID-19 Australian Government payment or the COVID-19 disaster payment will be considered to be performing qualifying work for the purpose of the paid parental leave work test. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Defence 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
    to: expand the operation of the disciplinary infringement scheme to provide a means of dealing with minor breaches of military discipline; remove the subordinate summary authority and correct a number of anomalies with regard to the respective jurisdiction of discipline officers and summary authorities, and between the different types of summary authority, in relation to the type of breach of military discipline, the rank of defence members with which each can deal, and the powers and punishments available to each level of authority; establish new service offences for failure to perform duty or carry out an activity, cyber-bullying, failure to comply with removal order (in relation to material on social media that constitutes cyber-bullying) and failure to comply with requirement to notify change in circumstances (in relation to the receipt of a benefit or allowance); and make amendments contingent on the commencement of the
    Online Safety Act 2021
    ; and
    Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
    and
    Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955
    to make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: insert a vote-saving provision for postal votes that are not received inside a sealed envelope bearing a postal vote certificate; enable postal voters outside Australia to complete certain procedural steps electronically if they are unable to comply with authorised witness requirements; amend how records of paper-based postal vote applications are managed; remove the requirements for pre-poll declaration envelopes to carry a distinguishing number; provide for a fixed pre-poll period commencing no earlier than 12 days before polling day; enable the early opening and sorting of pre-poll ballot papers, and the early extraction of declaration votes; allow ‘spoilt’ or ‘discarded’ ballot papers to be bundled; increase the number of scrutineers permitted to observe the computerised scrutiny of Senate elections; and remove the requirement for the authorisation of printed electoral material to include details of the printer. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: increase the minimum membership requirements for non-parliamentary parties from 500 to 1500 unique members; and require the Electoral Commission to refuse an application by a political party to register a name, abbreviation or logo that replicates a key word or words in the registered name or abbreviation of a registered policy party without consent. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to reduce from $500 000 to $100 000 the threshold for electoral expenditure that can be incurred by an individual or organisation before they are required to register as a political campaigner. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Foreign Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Charter of the United Nations Act 1945
    to: specify that certain counter-terrorism financial sanctions lists and revocations be made by legislative instrument; and confirm the validity of action that has been taken, or which may need to be taken, in respect of conduct in relation to existing counter-terrorism financial sanctions listings that were made but not registered on the Federal Register of Legislation at the time of their making. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: make refunds of large-scale generation shortfall charges exempt from income tax; and remove the requirement for superannuation trustees to provide an actuarial certificate when calculating exempt current pension income using the proportionate method, where all members of the fund are fully in the retirement phase for all of the income year;
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to: increase the maximum amount of penalty units that can be included in regulations that prescribe an industry code from 300 to 600 penalty units; clarify that if regulations prescribe an industry code, the industry code may confer on a person or body functions and powers in relation to the code; and
    Family Law Act 1975
    and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to create an information sharing mechanism to allow the family law courts to access certain superannuation information held by the Commissioner of Taxation for the purpose of permitting family law proceedings. 

    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
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health and Aged Care 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Dental Benefits Act 2008
    to remove the lower eligibility age restriction of 2 years to allow eligible children from 0 years of age to access the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    03 Aug 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
    to enable the Treasurer to make rules for economic response payments to provide support to an entity where they are adversely affected by restrictions imposed by a state or territory public health order that is directed at controlling the transmission of COVID-19;
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to enable tax information to be disclosed to Australian government agencies for the purposes of administering COVID-19 business support programs;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to make payments received by eligible businesses under certain COVID-19 business support programs and Commonwealth COVID-19 disaster payments exempt from income tax; and
    Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures No. 2) Act 2020
    to reinstate a temporary mechanism for ministers to change arrangements relating to meeting information and document requirements under Commonwealth legislation. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education and Youth 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Amendment Bill 2021, Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Cost Recovery and Other Measures) Bill 2021 and Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Charges) Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Act 1997
    to: replace the annual registration and entry to market charges by imposing an annual charge payable by providers who are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS); and impose a charge for applications by schools for initial registration and renewal of registration on CRICOS. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education and Youth 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment Bill 2021, Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Cost Recovery and Other Measures) Bill 2021 and Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Charges) Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Act 2012
    to include a definition of 'total enrolments' for the purposes of calculating the tuition protection service levies. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education and Youth 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment Bill 2021, Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Amendment Bill 2021 and Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Charges) Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000
    to: provide that education services for overseas students agencies have the power to conduct compliance audits of registered providers; provide for payment arrangements for the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students annual registration charge; and make consequential and contingent amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Amends the
    A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999
    and
    A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999
    to: remove the annual child care subsidy (CCS) cap so that there will no longer be a limit on the amount of CCS that families, over a specified income, can receive each year; and increase the maximum subsidy rate of CCS for second and subsequent children, where a family has more than one child under 6 years of age. 

    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
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education and Youth 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment Bill 2021, Education Services for Overseas Students (TPS Levies) Amendment Bill 2021 and Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Cost Recovery and Other Measures) Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Charges) Act 2021
    , when enacted, to remove references to the annual registration and entry to market charges. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends: the
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: increase the producer offset for films that are not feature films released in cinemas to 30 per cent of total qualifying Australian production expenditure; increase the minimum qualifying Australian production expenditure threshold for claiming the producer offset and the post, digital and visual effects offset to $1 million; remove the 65 commercial hour cap on claiming qualifying Australian production expenditure for a drama series and seasons of a drama series; and create limitations on what a company can count as a films qualifying Australian production expenditure; 15 Acts to make amendments consequential on new debt restructuring and liquidation processes for eligible incorporated small businesses; and 16 Acts in the Treasury portfolio to make miscellaneous and technical amendments. 

    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
    23 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals) Bill 2021 to implement changes resulting from the sixth review of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding, the bill amends the
    Customs Act 1901
    to amend the definition of 'tobacco products' to include a reference to a new tariff subheading that applies to tobacco products designed for inhalation without combustion, commonly known as e-cigarettes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    23 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Customs Amendment (2022 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2021 to implement changes resulting from the sixth review of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding, the bill amends the
    Customs Tariff Act 1995
    to: insert new subheading classifications for emerging technologies and product categories, such as 3D printers and edible insects, respectively; remove subheading classifications for products that are no longer traded in significant volume such as answering machines; insert new subheading classifications to improve monitoring of trade for goods of concern such as synthetic diamonds, chemicals that are controlled under the Montreal Protocol and the Chemical Weapons Convention, and environmental goods such as electronic waste; create specific classifications for flat panel displays, semiconductor-based transducers and electronic waste; and make consequential amendments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Act 2008
    to abolish the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Board and establish an advisory board and expert advisory committees to provide advice to the Chief Executive Officer on certain matters including organ or tissue donation and transplantation matters, and for the Authority to make grants relating to organ and tissue donation and transplantation. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management 
    Summary
    The bill: appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purposes of making COVID-19 disaster payments in the 2021-22 financial year; and requires the Coordinator-General of the National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRAA) to include information in the NRRA’s annual report that relates to COVID-19 disaster payments made in the 2021-22 financial year. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Home Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Customs Tariff Act 1995
    to: extend the free rate of customs duty for certain medical and hygiene products from 31 December 2020 to 30 June 2021; and provide for a free rate of customs duty for goods for use in the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Program and for prescribed motor vehicles and motor vehicle components for research and development activities by automotive service providers previously registered under the Automotive Transformation Scheme and where the time for working out duty is between 1 April 2021 and 30 June 2025. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    16 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to extend the concessional tax treatment of payments received during the 2021-22 financial year by eligible businesses under eligible COVID-19 recovery grant programs administered by a state or territory government or authority; and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to enable tax information to be disclosed to Services Australia for the purposes of administering the COVID-19 disaster payment. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    02 Jun 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Agriculture, Water and the Environment 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Farm Household Support Act 2014
    to waive the repayment of certain classes of debts for farm household allowance (FHA) recipients arising from the business income reconciliation process for FHA payments between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2020. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Aged Care Act 1997
    to insert a definition of 'restrictive practice' and provide for the Quality of Care Principles to specify certain requirements in relation to the use of a restrictive practice; enable the secretary to conduct home care assurance reviews; and remove the requirement for the Minister for Aged Care to establish a committee known as the Aged Care Financing Authority; and
    Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018
    to expand the powers of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner to include the ability to issue a written notice if an approved provider does not comply with their responsibilities and to apply for a civil penalty order against a provider if they do not comply with the written notice. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Medical Indemnity Act 2002
    to ensure that claims made against midwives in private practice whose registration is not endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to prescribe scheduled medicines are eligible under the Allied Health Schemes, where the claim relates to incidents that occurred on or from 1 July 2020; and
    Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Act 2010
    to expand eligibility of the Midwifes Schemes to cover claims made against midwives in private practice whose registration has been endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to prescribe schedule medicines, irrespective of whether the midwife is covered under a professional indemnity insurance policy as an employee or in an independent capacity. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to: create a single set of employment pathway plan requirement provisions, which will allow better use of technology, enabling job seekers more choice about how they enter into an employment pathway plan and meet the requirements of that plan; repeal certain redundant and outdated 'activity test' provisions; create a single set of criteria for exemptions from mutual obligation requirements; provide legislative authority for expenditure on employment programs; and repeal certain redundant provisions;
    Farm Household Support Act 2014
    to make consequential amendments;
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to amend the targeted compliance framework to provide that sanctions need not be imposed when recipients of participation payments have a valid reason for failing to meet their requirements or immediately re-engage;
    Social Security Act 1991
    to: allow payments or benefits from Commonwealth and state and territory employment programs to not be considered income for social security law purposes; provide that the declaration of an approved program of work for income support payment is by legislative instrument; consolidate certain provisions in relation to activities that do not give rise to employment under certain industrial relations legislation; clarify that those receiving youth allowance as a job seeker continue to be treated as such when undertaking study as part of their requirements; and make amendments contingent on the commencement of the
    Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Act 2018
    ; and
    Farm Household Support Act 2014
    ,
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    to align the start day provisions for certain job seekers claiming jobseeker payment or youth allowance. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    27 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Social Services 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Social Security Act 1991
    ,
    Social Security (Administration) Act 1999
    and
    Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014
    to include a discretionary power to grant portability extensions to pensioners who are temporarily away from their country of residence and unable to return home within 26 weeks for reasons such as serious illness, death of a family member, natural disaster or public health crisis. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Fuel Security Bill 2021, the bill amends the:
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    ,
    Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000
    ,
    Petroleum and Other Fuels Reporting Act 2017
    and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the minimum stockholding obligation and the fuel security services payment; and
    Fuel Security Act 2021
    , when enacted, to make amendments consequential on the commencement of the
    Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Fuel Security (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2021, the bill: establishes a minimum stockholding obligation for corporate entities that undertake certain activities (broadly, importing and refining) in relation to certain transport fuels to hold a minimum quantity of those fuels nationally; and enable a production payment for refinery operators (referred to as a fuel security services payment) to provide an adjustable cent per litre payment to refineries in return for a commitment to continue refining until at least 30 June 2027. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Titles Administration and Other Measures) Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Act 2003
    to: ensure that if a person who is subject to a remedial direction submits an environment plan or a well operations management plan, that person is required to pay environment plan levy or well activity levy respectively; and provide for payment of safety case levies for safety cases that deal with activities carried out to comply with a remedial direction. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Industry, Science, Energy and Resources 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment Bill 2021, the bill amends the:
    Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
    to: provide for oversight and scrutiny of transactions involving a change of control of a petroleum or greenhouse gas titleholder, through a merger or takeover; expand existing powers to 'call back' previous titleholders to decommission infrastructure and remediate the marine environment in the title area where the current or immediate former titleholder is unable to do so (known as 'trailing liability'); provide for specific decision-making criteria and expanded information-gathering powers; and make minor and technical amendments in relation to the operation of the Act, including enabling electronic lodgement of applications. Also repeals 23 obsolete Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986
    to provide employers with an exemption from fringe benefits tax if they provide training or education to a redundant, or soon to be redundant, employee for the purpose of assisting that employee to gain new employment;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: extend the operation of the junior minerals exploration incentive for a further four years; and include a reporting requirement for mineral exploration companies where no exploration investment has occurred to enable unused exploration credits to be identified earlier and reallocated;
    Treasury Laws Amendment (Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive) Act 2018
    to make consequential amendments;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    and
    Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997
    to provide a capital gains tax exemption for granny flat arrangements where there is a formal written agreement in place;
    Corporations Act 2001
    and
    National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
    to provide that the Australian Securities and Investment Commission is not prohibited from making a product intervention order that has conditions relating to fees, charges or other consideration payable by a retail client or consumer in relation to a financial or credit product;
    International Tax Agreements Act 1953
    to disregard days spent in Australia due to COVID-19 by New Zealand sportspersons on teams participating in cross-border competitions and their support staff in determining whether income derived from such competitions is taxable in Australia; and
    Treasury Laws Amendment (A Tax Plan for the COVID-19 Economic Recovery) Act 2020
    to retain the low and middle income tax offset for the 2021-22 financial year. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Resources, Water and Northern Australia 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Water Act 2007
    to: establish the role of an independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance to monitor, and provide independent oversight of, water compliance; provide for the Inspector-General's powers and functions; introduce new offence and civil penalty provisions for unlawful conduct relating to the taking of water and new civil penalties for conduct relating to trading of water rights; and make minor amendments. Also makes consequential amendments to the
    Basin Plan 2012

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Financial Regulator Assessment Authority Bill 2021, the bill amends five Acts to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the Financial Regulator Assessment Authority. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Financial Regulator Assessment Authority (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2021, the bill: establishes the Financial Regulatory Assessment Authority to assess and report on the effectiveness and capability of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; and prohibits the unauthorised use or disclosure of protected information provided to the Authority. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    to: extend the FEE-HELP loan fee exemption currently in place for units with a census date between 1 April and 30 June 2021 by a further six months, to 31 December 2021; and apply a 20 per cent FEE-HELP loan fee for units with a census date on or after 1 January 2022. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2021, the bill imposes a registered higher education provider charge to recover the costs of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency's monitoring and regulatory oversight activities. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education, Skills and Employment 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Charges) Bill 2021, the bill amends the
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
    to enable the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency to collect and administer the registered higher education provider charge. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    13 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    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;
    National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018
    to expand the objects of the Act to include the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation improving housing outcomes for Australians by assisting earlier access to the housing market by single parents with dependants;
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    ,
    Social Security Act 1991
    and
    Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986
    to provide that annual and lump sum payments made by the Commonwealth to thalidomide survivors are exempt from income tax and do not count as income for the purposes of any income support payments; and
    Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
    to: make disaster recovery grant payments in relation to the storms and floods that occurred in February and March 2021 non-assessable non-exempt income; update the list of deductible gift recipients to include six new entities; and extend the period in which two entities are deductible gift recipients. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to require notice of the making of certain character decisions by the minister to be tabled before each House of the Parliament. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Health 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Private Health Insurance Act 2007
    to: continue the pause on the indexation of private health insurance income thresholds used in determining the tier for the private health insurance rebate and the Medicare levy surcharge for a further two years; and adjust the formula for recommencement of indexation at the current income thresholds from 1 July 2023. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 May 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Finance 
    Summary
    Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Mar 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: reduce the expenditure required by subscription television broadcasting licensees on new eligible drama expenditure from 10 per cent to 5 per cent; provide for subscription television captioning rules to be made by legislative instrument; remove the requirement that all frequency channels allotted or reserved in a digital radio channel plan be within the same frequency band; provide that a regional commercial radio broadcasting licensee does not breach a licence condition if it is only as a result of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) making a new licence area population determination; and extend the timeframe for the ACMA to make grants under the Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund beyond 30 June 2021. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    25 Mar 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to: clarify that the Act does not require or authorise the removal of an unlawful non-citizen who has been found to engage protection obligations through the protection visa process unless the decision finding that the non-citizen engages protection obligations has been set aside, the minister is satisfied that the non-citizen no longer engages protection obligations or the non-citizen requests voluntary removal; and ensure that, in assessing a protection visa application, protection obligations are always assessed, including in circumstances where the applicant is ineligible for a visa due to criminal conduct or risks to security. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    24 Mar 2021 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Treasury 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to establish a scheme that mandates that service and repair information provided to car dealership networks and manufacturer preferred repairs be made available for independent repairs and registered training organisations to purchase at a fair market price; and
    Copyright Act 1968
    to provide that the statutory licensing scheme for educational institutions does not apply to such information. 

    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.