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.

Keyword(s)
Status
Current Bills
Previous Bills
Type

TOTAL RESULTS: 243

  • Date
    09 Oct 2024 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Interactive Gambling Act 2001
    to provide for a staged implementation of a prohibition on the advertising of licensed interactive wagering services. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    21 Jun 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Foreign Affairs and Trade 
    Summary
    Amends the
    International Organisations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1963
    to: declare an international organisation of which Australia is not a member as an international organisation; confer privileges and immunities on categories of officials not prescribed in the Act where requested by an international organisation and agreed to by Australia; and provide greater flexibility to grant certain privileges and immunities to international organisations and connected persons. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    09 Mar 2023 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON, Sen Pauline 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—February 2023) Instrument 2023
    to amend the regulatory framework for medicinal cannabis by: re-scheduling medicinal cannabis, thereby allowing prescription by any medical practitioner; adopting a definition for cannabis as a regulated product that allows a higher level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); and allowing whole plant cannabis products with certain limits of THC and cannabidiol to be sold over the counter at a chemist or veterinary clinic to persons over 18 years of age. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

Bills lists

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

Legislative Analysis

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

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.

Bills referred to committees

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

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.