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.

Bills introduced to Parliament are scrutinised to make sure they meet certain standards and to consider whether they should be referred to a committee for further investigation. This can include feedback from stakeholders and the general public, and a report recommending potential improvements to the bill.

Current Parliament

84

Bills before Parliament

50

Bills assented to

4

Bills not proceeding

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Current Bills
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TOTAL RESULTS: 55

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  • Business Names Registration (Application of Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    03 Nov 2011 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Innovation, Industry, Science and Research 
    Summary
    Clarifies that consequential amendments made by the
    Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2011
    to ten Acts will not apply until the national business names registration system commences. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Banking Amendment (Delivering Essential Financial Services for the Community) Bill 2010

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    15 Jun 2010 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    BROWN, Sen Bob 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Banking Act 1959
    to: require banks to offer basic transaction accounts and to limit other fees to cost recovery; provide that transactions at a bank’s own-branded ATMs are free of charge; cap charges for the use of a bank’s ATMs by customers of another authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI); require ADIs to offer a fixed interest gap mortgage; cap mortgage exit fees at cost recovery; and require uniform identification of exit fees in advertising and mortgage contracts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Britt Lapthorne Bill 2009

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    17 Sep 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    FIELDING, Sen Steve 
    Summary
    The bill: requires the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to identify and contact a person’s next of kin when that person is in a foreign country and believed to be missing; provides for the department and its agencies to offer assistance in such circumstances; and requires the minister to report annually on the development and implementation of international agreements relating to Australian citizens believed to be missing overseas. 

    Bill

  • Banking Amendment (Keeping Banks Accountable) Bill 2009

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    25 Jun 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    FIELDING, Sen Steve 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Banking Act 1959
    to enable the Treasurer to determine that the Financial Claims Scheme no longer apply to a bank which either withholds an interest rate cut or increases its variable standard rate in response to an official interest rate reduction. 

    Bill

  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television Switch-over) Bill 2008

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    24 Sep 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: implement a staggered, region-by-region digital switch-over television timetable (to be completed by 31 December 2013); and specify the dates of two statutory reviews. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2008

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    17 Sep 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    and
    Radiocommunications Act 1992
    to: extend the deadline for commercial broadcasters to commence digital radio services in the mainland state capital cities to 1 July 2009; remove the requirement for digital radio services to commence in Hobart by the extended deadline; and retain the option for community radio stations to take up shares in joint venture companies that own digital radio transmission infrastructure. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Workplace Rights) Bill 2008

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    28 Aug 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    SIEWERT, Sen Rachel 
    Summary
    Repeals the
    Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005
    and
    Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2005
    . 

    Bill

  • Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment (Superannuation Contributions) Bill 2006 [2007]

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    06 Dec 2006 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Attorney-General 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Bankruptcy Act 1966
    and
    Payment Systems and Netting Act 1998
    to provide for the recovery of superannuation contributions made with the intention to defeat creditors; and
    Bankruptcy Act 1966
    and
    Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
    to: provide for certain rural support grants to be exempt from the property available to pay the bankrupt’s creditors; and make minor technical amendments in relation to the operation of the Act. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2006

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    14 Sep 2006 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications, Information Technology and the Arts 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006, the bill amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    and
    Radiocommunications Act 1992
    to reform the digital television and commercial television broadcasting regime, particularly in relation to: regulation of digital television; broadcasting of sports on the anti-siphoning list on new digital channels; commercial television licensing arrangements; allocation of channels for new digital services; the access regime for channel B datacasting transmitter licences and access undertakings; and industry codes and standards. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Broadcasting Services Amendment (Subscription Television Drama and Community Broadcasting Licences) Bill 2006

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    01 Mar 2006 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Communications, Information Technology and the Arts 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Broadcasting Services Act 1992
    to: increase flexibility in the operation of the 10 per cent requirement for new spending on drama on subscription television; and allow the Australian Communications and Media Authority to approve the transfer of a community broadcasting licence to another person who represents the same community interest. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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Bills lists

All bills before Parliament for the current calendar year and details of their progress.

Bills Digests

Summaries of bills, their purpose, background and financial implications.

Legislative Instruments

Parliament delegates the power to legislate so details of law can be changed quickly by others. These delegated laws are referred to as legislative instruments and can be overruled – disallowed – by Parliament.

Disallowance Alerts

Legislative instruments subject to a notice of motion to disallow. The progress and eventual outcome of any such notice is also recorded.

Tariff proposals

The introduction of a tariff proposal is the formal procedure for initiating the collection of customs and excise duties.

Legislative Analysis

Parliamentary Library analysis of bills, including the purpose, background and key issues.

Bills currently referred to Senate committees

To inquire and report views on the bill from organisations and individuals.

Bills currently referred to House committees (PDF 313KB)

To inquire and report views on the bill from organisations and individuals.

Double dissolution triggers

Bills that could trigger a double dissolution.

Statistics on legislation

Printed bills and explanatory memoranda

Order printed versions at the Federal Register of Legislation by clicking the print icon at the document level.