Bills before the Senate

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TOTAL RESULTS: 26

  • Date
    10 Feb 2020 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Act 2008
    to require the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority to ensure that school education provides a balanced presentation of opposing views on political, historical and scientific issues; and
    Australian Education Act 2013
    to make financial assistance to a state or territory conditional on the state or territory having certain laws in force. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    12 Feb 2019 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    STEELE-JOHN, Sen Jordon 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: require national broadcasters, commercial television broadcasting licensees and subscription television licensees to provide a minimum number of hours of television audio description per week; and provide for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to enforce and review the new requirement. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    23 Jul 2025 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Portfolio
    Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Competition and Consumer Act 2010
    to separate the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and establish the AER as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    03 Aug 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    POCOCK, Sen David 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Copyright Act 1968
    to remove restrictions limiting the Copyright Tribunal from: determining the amount payable to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to one per cent of the commercial broadcaster’s gross earnings; and determining the amount payable by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to an amount not exceeding 0.5 cents per head of the Australian population. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Mar 2025 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    FARUQI, Sen Mehreen 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Crimes Act 1914
    to remove mandatory minimum sentences for certain offences. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    01 Sep 2021 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    FARUQI, Sen Mehreen 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958
    and
    Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956
    to prohibit the export and import of greyhounds for racing, breeding and commercial purposes. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    20 Nov 2024 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    POCOCK, Sen David 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to: increase the number of senators from the Australia Capital Territory and the Northern Territory to half the number of senators for a state; and provide for 3 senators from each of the territories to be elected at each federal election giving territory senators a 6 year term. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    04 Sep 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    WATERS, Sen Larissa 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    to prohibit political donations being made by corporations or close associates of the corporation in certain circumstances. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    08 Feb 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    STEELE-JOHN, Sen Jordon 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
    and
    Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
    to: lower the minimum voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    05 Sep 2022 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
    to: require actions that would emit between 25,000 to 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions in any one year to be assessed for approval under Part 9 of the Act; require the minister, when approving any such action or when considering whether to enter into a conservation agreement, to consider Australia’s national carbon budget and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; require the minister to reject the approval of actions that would emit over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions; require the Climate Change Authority to develop a national carbon budget to 2050 and to annually assess the budget; prohibit the minister, subject to certain exceptions, from using alternative approval processes for certain emissions intensive actions; and introduce penalties for undertaking certain emissions intensive actions without approval if the action has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment. 

    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.

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