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

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4

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TOTAL RESULTS: 111

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  • Migration Amendment (Declared Countries) Bill 2011

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    16 Jun 2011 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Migration Act 1958
    to provide that a ministerial declaration specifying that a country provides certain procedures and protections for offshore entry persons is a legislative instrument; and
    Legislative Instruments Act 2003
    to provide that the ministerial declaration is subject to disallowance by either House of the Parliament. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Military Justice (Interim Measures) Bill (No. 1) 2009

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    09 Sep 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Defence 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Military Justice (Interim Measures) Bill (No. 2) 2009, the bill amends the
    Defence Force Discipline Act 1982
    to: provide an interim response to the High Court decision in
    Lane v Morrison
    by returning to the service tribunal system that existed before the creation of the Australian Military Court. Also makes consequential amendments to the
    Defence Act 1903
    ,
    Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955
    ,
    Judges’ Pensions Act 1968
    and
    Migration Act 1958
    , and contains application and transitional provisions relating to proceedings and office holders. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Military Justice (Interim Measures) Bill (No. 2) 2009

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    09 Sep 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Defence 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Military Justice (Interim Measures) Bill (No. 1) 2009, the bill imposes disciplinary sanctions on persons which correspond to punishments imposed by the Australian Military Court and, to the extent necessary, summary authorities in the period between the Court’s establishment and the High Court’s decision in
    Lane v Morrison
    . Also provides persons with a right to seek review of their disciplinary liability under the Act. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009 [2010]

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    25 Jun 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Immigration and Citizenship 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to implement seven Immigration Detention Values to provide the framework for immigration detention. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    24 Jun 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to: remove all discriminatory references based on sexual orientation and gender identity; and allow marriage regardless of sex, sexuality and gender identity. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Bill 2009

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    18 Mar 2009 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Immigration and Citizenship 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to: remove the liability for immigration detention and related costs for certain persons and liable parties and extinguish all outstanding immigration detention debts; and ensure regulations can no longer prescribe sponsorship undertakings or obligations that include payments to the Commonwealth in relation to the cost of a person’s immigration detention. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2008 [2009]

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    03 Dec 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Immigration and Citizenship 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Migration Act 1958
    to: clarify that the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal may invite either orally or in writing, review applicants or third parties to give information; reinstate uniform time limits for applying for judicial review of a migration decision in the Federal Magistrates Court, Federal Court and High Court; and limit the appeals against judgments by the Federal Magistrates Court and the Federal Court that make an order or refuse to make an order to extend time to apply for judicial review of migration decisions. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Migration Legislation Amendment (Worker Protection) Bill 2008

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    24 Sep 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Immigration and Citizenship 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Migration Act 1958
    to establish a framework for the sponsorship of non-citizens seeking entry to Australia which will: define sponsorship obligations for employers and other sponsors; expand powers to monitor and investigate possible non-compliance by sponsors; and introduce a civil penalty regime for non-compliance; and
    Taxation Administration Act 1953
    to authorise the disclosure and sharing of certain information between the Commissioner of Taxation and migration officers. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2008

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    25 Jun 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Immigration and Citizenship 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Migration Act 1958
    to: reinstate time limits for applying to courts for judicial review of migration decisions; streamline procedures for notifying parties of Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal decisions; amend border protection provisions in relation to advance passenger and crew reports, 'round trip cruises' and special purpose visas; amend visa provisions in relation to the status of certain non-citizen children and bridging visas and offences; respond to
    Moore v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
    [2007] FCA 626 by clarifying character cancellation provisions; ensure illegal foreign fishers and environmental offenders are removed from Australia when they become unlawful non-citizens; give the minister discretion when providing documents to a non-registered migration agent; and
    Australian Citizenship Act 2007
    and
    Australian Citizenship (Transitionals and Consequentials) Act 2007
    to: clarify provisions and remove inconsistencies; and ensure the
    Australian Citizenship Act 2007
    is consistent with obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness 1961. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Marriage (Relationships Equality) Amendment Bill 2008

    Track (What's this?)

    Date
    14 Feb 2008 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Sponsor
    NETTLE, Kerry 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Marriage Act 1961
    to amend the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

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Bills lists

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

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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

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