Last week in the House


Week beginning 22 November 2021

This page provides an overview of the key events of the last sitting week in the House of Representatives. It includes all bills presented and debated, and selected statements, debates and committee business. For the official record of proceedings, see the Votes and Proceedings. For a detailed procedural account of events, see the Procedural Digest and House Review.

Key events

  • Statement by Speaker Smith: resolution of the House regarding Federal Court Proceedings (22 November)
  • Treaty tabled: Agreement between the Government of Australia, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of the United States of America for the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (22 November)
  • Resignation of Speaker Smith (22 November)
  • Election of Speaker Wallace (23 November)
  • Statement by Speaker Wallace: execution of search warrants in relation to a Member of Parliament (24 November)

Legislation

14 bills were presented and 3 bills were passed by the House

Click here for a list of bills introduced and debated in the House

Ministerial Statements

The following ministerial statement was made on Wednesday, 24 November

The following ministerial statement was made on Thursday, 25 November

  • Investment—Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment

Matters of Public Importance discussed

Committee and delegation business

Committee reports presented

Joint Select Committee on Australia's Family Law System

Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts

  • Sculpting a national cultural plan: Igniting a post-COVID economy for the arts (25 November)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services

  • Regulation of the use of financial services such as credit cards and digital wallets for online gambling in Australia (22 November)
  • Corporations Amendment (Improving Outcomes for Litigation Funding Participants) Bill 2021 (22 November)

Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

  • Inquiry into the Department of Defence annual report 2019-20 (25 November)

Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport

  • The New Frontier: Delivering better health for all Australians: Inquiry into approval processes for new drugs and novel medical technologies in Australia (25 November)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

  • Human rights scrutiny report: Report 13 of 2021 (22 November)
  • Human rights scrutiny report: Report 14 of 2021 (24 November)

Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme

  • Second interim report of the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme (24 November)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

  • Reviews of Administration and Expenditure: No. 18 (2018-2019) and No. 19 (2019-2020) (25 November)

Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

  • Mental health and suicide prevention: Final report (24 November)

Standing Committee on Petitions

  • Report 33: Petitions and ministerial responses (22 November)

Government responses presented

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

  • Review of the re-listing of Hizballah's External Security Organisation as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code (24 November)

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

  • Report 197: Minamata Convention on Mercury (22 November)

Private Members’ business

The following private members' motions were moved and debated on Monday, 22 November

Debate resumed on the following private members' motions on Monday, 22 November

More information

These Infosheets provide useful information about the business of the House and Federation Chamber.

For the official record of the proceedings of the House, including a list of papers presented, go to the Votes and Proceedings. To read transcripts of the debates, go to Hansard.

More House statistics

Statistical records of the work of the House of Representatives are available on a range of business items, including legislation, questions, statements and petitions.