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: 22

  • Date
    26 Nov 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025, the bill amends the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    and
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
    to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    26 Nov 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Before Senate 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025, the bill establishes the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to provide stewardship of the higher education system, including by entering into mission based compacts with higher education providers and preparing reports and providing advice and recommendations, if requested by the Minister, to various Commonwealth, state and territory ministers. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    23 Jul 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Amends the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    and 5 other Acts to: provide a one-off 20 per cent reduction to Higher Education Loan Program debts and certain other student loans that are incurred on or before 1 June 2025; and increase the minimum repayment threshold from $54,435 in the 2024-25 financial year to $67,000 in the 2025-26 financial year and provide that compulsory student loan repayments are calculated on income above the new threshold rather than being based on a percentage of the repayment income. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    23 Jul 2025 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025, the bill amends the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    to make compliance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence a quality and accountability requirement for higher education providers approved under the Act. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    23 Jul 2025 
    Chamber
    Senate 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025, the bill provides for a National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence which may impose certain requirements and standards on higher education providers in relation to gender-based violence. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Feb 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025, the bill amends the
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    to make compliance with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence a quality and accountability requirement for higher education providers approved under the Act. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    06 Feb 2025 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Not Proceeding 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025, the bill provides for a National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence which may impose certain requirements and standards on higher education providers in relation to gender-based violence. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    11 Sep 2024 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Ombudsman Act 1976
    to establish the National Student Ombudsman as a new statutory function of the Commonwealth Ombudsman to deal with complaints about, and conduct investigations into, actions of higher education providers. Also makes consequential amendments to the
    Ombudsman Act 1976
    and 3 other Acts. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    15 Aug 2024 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Education 
    Summary
    Amends the:
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    and 4 other Acts providing students with income contingent loans to provide that the calculation of a person’s loan or debt will take into account changes in the consumer price index or the wage price index; and
    Higher Education Support Act 2003
    to require higher education providers to allocate a minimum of 40 per cent of their student services and amenities fees revenue to student-led organisations; rename enabling courses ‘FEE-FREE Uni Ready Courses’ for students in Commonwealth supported places and establish a Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding cluster for these courses; facilitate the establishment of a grant for eligible domestic students undertaking mandatory placements in identified priority areas (the Commonwealth Prac Payment); add Adelaide University to the list of Table A providers to reflect the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia; and provide a power for the minister to make transitional rules. 

    Bill | Explanatory Memorandum

  • Date
    28 Mar 2018 
    Chamber
    House of Representatives 
    Status
    Act 
    Portfolio
    Environment and Energy 
    Summary
    Introduced with the Underwater Cultural Heritage Bill 2018 to replace the framework established by the
    Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976
    , the bill: repeals the
    Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976
    ; and makes consequential amendments to the
    Australian Heritage Council Act 2003
    ,
    Navigation Act 2012
    ,
    Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981
    and
    Sea Installations Act 1987
    . Also includes transitional provisions in relation to: automatically and individually declared sites and articles; notified relics; notices of possession, custody and control of articles; applications for, and issued, permits; and continuation of the Register of Historic Shipwrecks. 

    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.