This is a list of all bills that have come before the current federal parliament. Data updates daily.
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Amends: the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 to provide a resource management framework for the use and management of public resources, including for grants administration; the Public Service Act 1999 to provide the Public Service Commissioner with certain powers in relation to breaches of the code of conduct relating to the resource management framework; and 9 Acts in relation to oversight of investment mandates.
Establishes the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers Special Account to make grants of financial assistance to support remuneration increases for workers in the early childhood education and care sector.
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.
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.
Amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to replace the existing framework for mergers review with a mandatory and suspensory administrative system for acquisitions, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as the first instance administrative decision-maker. Also makes consequential amendments to 5 Acts.
Introduced with the Superannuation (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions) Imposition Bill 2023, the bill amends: 7 Acts to make consequential amendments; the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 to enable the disclosure of information about a recognised assessment activity in relation to a registered entity in certain circumstances; the Financial Regulator Assessment Authority Act 2021 to reduce the frequency of certain periodic reviews; 6 Acts to make miscellaneous and technical amendments in the Treasury portfolio; the Corporations Act 2001 to provide four licensing exemptions for foreign financial services providers; and the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998 and 4 other Acts in relation to the payments regulatory framework.
Amends the: Taxation Administration Act 1953 to: modify the foreign resident capital gains withholding payments regime to increase the withholding rate from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent and remove the threshold before which withholding applies; allow employers to make single touch payroll declarations for extended periods; and provide the Commissioner of Taxation with a power to retain tax refunds for a 90-day period to enable the commissioner to obtain financial institution details for the refund to be paid into; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to extend the time in which small or medium business taxpayers may apply to have a tax assessment amended.
Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023, the bill imposes a tax rate of 15 per cent for superannuation earnings corresponding to the percentage of an individual’s superannuation balance that exceeds $3 million for an income year.
Amends the: Ombudsman Act 1976 and Inspector-General of Taxation Act 2003 to implement two recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme by: imposing a statutory duty on agency heads and their staff to assist the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman (IGTO) in the performance of their functions; and expanding the powers of the Ombudsman and IGTO to access agency records; Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to clarify that the Inspector-General of Security and Intelligence is entitled to reasonable facilities and assistance when making preliminary inquiries of the head of an intelligence agency; and Ombudsman Act 1976 to: enable the Ombudsman and IGTO to access documents and other records by remote means; and make technical and contingent amendments.
Amends the: National Broadband Network Companies Act 2011 to provide that NBN Co Limited, the company that operates the National Broadband Network, remains wholly owned by the Commonwealth; and Telecommunications Act 1997 to make consequential amendments.
Re-establishes the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner.
Amends the Australian Education Act 2013 to: amend the approach for determining the Commonwealth’s contribution to recurrent funding for government schools by providing for the Commonwealth share to be prescribed by regulation, subject to certain conditions; specify the Northern Territory’s funding share; and provides for certain publication and reporting requirements.
Amends the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to: extend the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime to additional services that are recognised by the Financial Action Task Force as posing high money laundering and terrorism financing risks; reframe and clarify the AML/CTF program and customer due diligence obligations; enable the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre to require the disclosure of information and conduct examinations; and update the AML/CTF regime to reflect changing business structures, technologies and illicit financing methodologies; and make consequential amendments. Also makes consequential or contingent amendments to 10 other Acts; and repeals the Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988.
Amends the: Aged Care Act 1997 to: enable the secretary to conduct residential care data assurance reviews; and clarify the maximum accommodation payment that may apply for voluntary moves within a residential aged care service; and Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to: enable refundable deposit balance information held by approved providers to be used to verify care recipients’ income and asset details; enable an income and assets determination to be varied; and align income and assets determination processes.
Responds to certain recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and the Final Report of the Aged Care Taskforce by establishing a new framework for the delivery of funded aged care services to individuals under the Commonwealth aged care system, including providing for: a Statement of Rights for individuals and a Statement of Principles for government agencies and bodies; requirements for an individual to access funded aged care services; mechanisms for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner to consider and decide on applications for registration as a provider and applications for approval of a residential care home; arrangements for funding of aged care services; governance arrangements for the broader aged care system; regulatory mechanisms; the use and disclosure of information; and the establishment of a First Nations Aged Care Commissioner.
Amends the Sydney Airport Demand Management Act 1997 to: enable the minister to declare a higher maximum movement limit for a strictly limited period to assist in managing certain disruptions to operations at Sydney Airport; provide for the minister to make the Slot Management Scheme, rather than the Slot Manager; modify the compliance regime in relation to slot misuse, including establishing civil penalty provisions and changing the role and functions of the Compliance Committee; and provide for information management obligations.
Introduced with the Cyber Security Bill 2024 and Intelligence Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Cyber Security) Bill 2024 to implement certain measures proposed by the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, the bill amends the: Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 to: clarify obligations in relation to certain data storage systems that store or process business critical data; expand the government assistance framework to facilitate the management of consequences of impacts of incidents on critical infrastructure assets; amend the definition of ‘protected information’ to include a harms-based assessment and non-exhaustive list of relevant information; clarify the use and disclosure of protected information; enable the regulator to direct an entity to remedy a seriously deficient risk management program; consolidate security requirements for critical telecommunications assets; remove direct interest holders from reporting obligations associated with Systems of National Significance. Also makes consequential or contingent amendments to 5 Acts.
Amends the: Privacy Act 1988 and 7 other Acts to introduce a range of measures to protect the privacy of individuals with respect to their personal information, including expanding the Information Commissioner’s powers, facilitating information sharing in emergency situations or following eligible data breaches, requiring the development of a Children’s Online Privacy Code, providing protections for overseas disclosures of personal information, introducing new civil penalties, and increasing transparency about automated decisions which use personal information; Privacy Act 1988 to introduce a statutory tort to provide redress for serious invasions of privacy; and Criminal Code Act 1995 to introduce criminal offences targeting the release of personal data using a carriage service in a manner that would be menacing or harassing (known as ‘doxxing’).
Amends the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to provide for a staged implementation of a prohibition on the advertising of licensed interactive wagering services.
Introduced with the Cyber Security Bill 2024 and Security of Critical Infrastructure and Other Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Response and Prevention) Bill 2024 to implement certain measures proposed by the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, the bill amends the: Intelligence Services Act 2001 to establish a ‘limited use’ obligation that restricts how cyber security information voluntarily provided to the Australian Signals Directorate can be used and disclosed; and Freedom of Information Act 1982 to exempt cyber security information voluntarily provided to the National Cyber Security Coordinator from the operation of the Act.
Amends the Housing Australia Act 2018 to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the Help to Buy Scheme
Introduced with the Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024, the bill establishes the National Interest Framework to support consideration and decision making in relation to public investment that facilitates private sector investment in the national interest.
Introduced with the Future Made in Australia Bill 2024, the bill amends the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1991 to enable Export Finance Australia to support investments consistent with the National Interest Framework where support is not available through existing funds and programs; and make technical and minor amendments; and Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011 and Australian Renewable Energy Agency Regulation 2016 to enable the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to support renewable energy technologies that are part of the net zero transformation and to administer the Innovation Fund and other programs.
Introduced with the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) Bill 2024 and Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024, the bill: establishes the voluntary Guarantee of Origin scheme to certify renewable electricity and products such as hydrogen; and provides for the creation of certificates that contain information about the attributes of the renewable electricity or product that they represent.
Introduced with the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Bill 2024 and Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) Bill 2024, the bill amends the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011, National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 and Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the Guarantee of Origin scheme.
Introduced with the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Bill 2024 and Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024, the bill imposes charges to recover the cost of providing services that benefit groups of Guarantee of Origin scheme participants.
Introduced with the Intelligence Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Cyber Security) Bill 2024 and Security of Critical Infrastructure and Other Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Response and Prevention) Bill 2024 to implement certain measures proposed by the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, the bill provides for: mandatory security standards for smart devices; mandatory obligations on certain businesses to report ransomware and cyber extortion payments; a ‘limited use’ obligation that restricts how cyber security information voluntarily provided to the National Cyber Security Coordinator can be used and disclosed; and the establishment of a Cyber Incident Review Board to conduct post-incident reviews into significant cyber security incidents.
Establishes a Commonwealth shared equity program (Help to Buy Scheme) to be administered by Housing Australia that will assist low to middle income earners to purchase new or existing homes
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to introduce limitations on timeframes permissible for reconsideration of certain decisions, and on those who may seek reconsideration after a period of 3 years.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to: impose obligations on digital communications platform providers in relation to the dissemination of content on a digital communications platform that contains information that is reasonably verifiable as false, misleading or deceptive, and is reasonably likely to cause or contribute to serious harm of a specified type (misinformation and disinformation); expand the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s compliance and enforcement powers in relation to misinformation and disinformation; and make consequential amendments. Also makes consequential amendments to 3 other Acts; and amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to make an amendment contingent on the commencement of the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024.
Repeals the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection (Kings Plains) Declaration 2024 and prevents the minister from making a declaration that would affect the construction or operation of a gold mine in the Blayney gold mine area.
Introduced with the Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill establishes a Commonwealth shared equity program (Help to Buy Scheme) to be administered by Housing Australia that will assist low to middle income earners to purchase new or existing homes.
Introduced with the Help to Buy Bill 2023, the bill amends the Housing Australia Act 2018 to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the Help to Buy Scheme.
Amends the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to: expand the circumstances in which a person may be automatically disqualified from office and make it a criminal offence for a person who is disqualified from holding office in a registered organisation to continue to hold office or act in a manner that would significantly influence the organisation; provide for a disqualification scheme that allows the Federal Court to disqualify an official from holding office in certain circumstances; expand the grounds for the cancellation of registration of organisations by the Federal Court; and enable the Federal Court to make orders instead of cancellation of registration.
Partially implements the Government’s response to the review of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) by amending the Reserve Bank Act 1959 to: remove the Government’s power to override monetary policy decisions of the RBA and remove the RBA’s power to determine the lending policy of banks; clarify the objectives and functions of the RBA; replace the existing Reserve Bank Board with a Monetary Policy Board and Governance Board; and make consequential and minor amendments.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to: strengthen existing offences for urging force or violence and create new offences for threatening force or violence against targeted groups and members of groups; and expand the list of groups protected by the public display of prohibited hate symbols offences.
Amends the: Family Law Act 1975 to: enable the court to control and manage the conduct of property and other non-child-related proceedings, including to address family violence and ensure appropriate evidence is before the court; codify the duty of disclosure relevant to financial information; amend the arbitration regime for court-ordered or privately arranged family law arbitrations; provide a regulatory framework for Children’s Contact services; safeguard against the disclosure and adducing of evidence arising from communications made in the course of professional confidential relationships; and Family Law Act 1975 and 5 other Acts to clarify various aspects of family law and support the operation of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Family Court of Western Australia. Also provides for a review of the amendments made by this proposed Act.
Amends 52 Acts to make consequential and technical amendments arising from the enactment of the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024. Also repeals the Tribunals Amalgamation Act 2015.
Introduced with the Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Bill 2024 and Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Imposition Bill 2024, the bill amends 5 Acts to make amendments consequential on the introduction of global and domestic minimum taxes in Australia, including amendments to ensure that the taxes interact appropriately with existing Australian taxation laws.
Introduced with the Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Bill 2024 and Treasury Laws Amendment (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) (Consequential) Bill 2024, the bill imposes global and domestic minimum taxes in respect of profits of multinational enterprises that have been undertaxed.
Introduced with the Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Imposition Bill 2024 and Treasury Laws Amendment (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) (Consequential) Bill 2024, the bill establishes a taxation framework to implement the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules (which ensure that multinational enterprises pay a minimum level of tax on the income arising in each of the jurisdictions in which they operate) and an Australian domestic minimum tax for certain multinational enterprise groups with an annual global revenue of at least EUR 750 million.
Amends the Student Identifiers Act 2014 to extend the system of unique student identifiers for vocational education and training and higher education students to school students.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: require persons entering Australia to respond to specified questions in relation to organ transplants outside Australia; provide for annual reporting requirements in relation to this information; and enable the minister to refuse to grant, or to cancel, a person’s visa if the minister reasonably suspects the person has been involved in conduct constituting an offence involving trafficking in human organs.
Amends the Housing Australia Future Fund Act 2023 to prohibit the Housing Australia Future Fund from investing in housing-related assets or entities financed by the Construction and Building Unions Superannuation Fund.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: prohibit the detention of minors; and introduce a 90-day limit on immigration detention which can only be extended if the minister decides that, having regard to principles of international law, an extended period of detention is necessary as a last resort and is reasonable and proportionate.
Amends the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to: expand the circumstances in which a person may be automatically disqualified from office and make it a criminal offence for a person who is disqualified from holding office in a registered organisation to continue to hold office or act in a manner that would significantly influence the organisation; provide for a disqualification scheme that allows the Federal Court to disqualify an official from holding office in certain circumstances; expand the grounds for the cancellation of registration of organisations by the Federal Court; and enable the Federal Court to make orders instead of cancellation of registration.
Re-establishes the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to: prohibit the broadcasting of gambling advertisements on certain television and radio broadcasting services; and prohibit the provision of gambling advertisements on certain online content services.
Amends the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 in relation to: new requirements for the ‘fit and proper’ provider test; giving certain information to registered providers; management of provider applications; registration requirements; automatic cancellation of a provider’s registration in certain circumstances; ministerial powers to determine enrolment limits on overseas students; and automatic suspension and cancellation of specified courses.
Amends the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 to add an area of land that is detailed in the Canteen Creek Area Indigenous Land Use Agreement so that the Wakaya Alyawarre Land can be granted as Aboriginal land.
Amends the: Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to: consolidate compensation and rehabilitation entitlements; amend various allowance and support schemes; and standardise the merits review pathway for veterans’ entitlements decisions; Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to consolidate the Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission; Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to transfer provisions relating to the Repatriation Medical Authority and the Specialist Medical Review Council; Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to change the disability compensation cessation date; and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 to include application and transitional provisions. Also makes consequential amendments to 30 Acts.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: establish a framework for a new temporary skilled worker visa, the Skills in Demand visa; and establish a public register of approved sponsors who have nominated skilled workers for entry to Australia.
Introduced with the Nature Positive (Environment Information Australia) Bill 2024 and Nature Positive (Environment Law Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024, the bill establishes Environment Protection Australia as a statutory Commonwealth entity to undertake regulatory and implementation functions under a range of environmental Commonwealth laws.
Australia) Bill 2024, the bill provides for transitional provisions and amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and 8 other Acts to support the establishment of Environment Protection Australia (EPA) and the Head of Environment Information Australia. Also amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: confer compliance powers on the EPA; introduce protection orders and audit powers; and provide for the minister and secretary to delegate powers to the Chief Executive Officer of the EPA.
Introduced with the Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 and Nature Positive (Environment Law Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024, the bill establishes the statutory position of the Head of Environment Information Australia to provide access to, assess and report on environmental information and data.
Amends the: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 in relation to: lowering the disclosure threshold to $1,000; real-time disclosure of donations; prohibiting misleading or deceptive electoral or referendum matter; broadening the definition of gift; funding disclosure requirements; introduction of a major-donor donation cap; prohibiting certain political donations; limiting pre-election government advertising; postal vote processes; and increasing Senate representation for the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory; and Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Do Not Call Register Act 2006 to provide that registered independent candidates are treated the same as political parties.
Establishes a commission of inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities.
Establishes a commission of inquiry into historic and ongoing injustices against First Peoples in Australia.
Introduced with the Capital Works (Build to Rent Misuse Tax) Bill 2024, the bill amends the: Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to provide incentives for investors to support the construction of new build to rent developments by increasing the capital works deduction rate to 4 per cent per year and reducing the final withholding tax rate on eligible fund payments from eligible managed investment trust investments to 15 per cent; National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 to extend the application of the Credit Code to buy now, pay later contracts and establish low cost credit contracts as a new category of regulated credit; Medicare Levy Act 1986 to exempt eligible lump sum payments in arrears from the Medicare Levy; Taxation Administration Act 1953 to impose a new reporting obligation on certain large multinational enterprises; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to update the list of deductible gift recipients; Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 to update funding arrangements to support payments from the Commonwealth to the States in relation to skills and workforce development; and Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to extend the $20,000 instant asset write-off by 12 months until 30 June 2025.
This bill is the result of the Senate dividing the Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (original bill) into two bills. This page shows the procedural history of the original bill up to the time it was divided, and the title and description of the bill as divided by the Senate (see sheet 2683 of amendments to the original bill). For copies of the explanatory memorandum and amendments circulated to the original bill, see the homepage of the original bill. This bill amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to provide incentives for investors to support the construction of new build to rent developments by increasing the capital works deduction rate to 4 per cent per year and reducing the final withholding tax rate on eligible fund payments from eligible managed investment trust investments to 15 per cent.
Amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to provide a tax offset for companies for certain expenditure incurred in undertaking food donations activities for registered food charities.
Amends the: Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to enable viewers to access the Viewer Access Satellite Television safety net service when a commercial television broadcaster ceases to provide services terrestrially in a given area; and Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and Radiocommunications Act 1992 to enable the consolidation of transmission arrangements for certain broadcasting services.
Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Bill 2024, the bill imposes a tax rate of 1.5 per cent on build to rent developments that do not meet certain eligibility conditions.
Amends the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to ban the broadcast, datacast and publication of licensed interactive wagering services.
Repeals the Digital ID Act 2024 and Digital ID (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2024. Also makes consequential amendments to 6 Acts.
The bill: provides for a National Housing and Homelessness Plan; establishes the National Housing Consumer Council to provide advice on the plan from the perspective of consumers; and establishes a National Housing and Homelessness Advocate to independently monitor the progress of the plan and to undertake reviews into systemic housing issues.
The bill: provides for a National Housing and Homelessness Plan; establishes the National Housing Consumer Council to provide advice on the plan from the perspective of consumers; and establishes a National Housing and Homelessness Advocate to independently monitor the progress of the plan and to undertake reviews into systemic housing issues.
Requires businesses to accept cash payments for certain transactions.
Establishes a commission of inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities.
Amends the Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Act 2022 to extend the fringe benefits tax exemption for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles until 1 April 2030.
Requires the Transport Minister to make carriers’ obligations rules and an aviation industry code of conduct to provide for the protection of passengers in certain circumstances.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: require non-citizens who are on a removal pathway and have exhausted all avenues to remain in Australia to cooperate with steps taken for the purpose of arranging their lawful removal from Australia; and make minor and technical amendments.
Introduced with the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024 and Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024, the bill provides for the imposition of biosecurity protection levies to be payable by certain producers of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products within Australia.
Introduced with the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024 and Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024, the bill: provides for the collection and administration of biosecurity protection levies and charges; applies the standard provisions of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014; and provides for the use and disclosure of certain information.
Introduced with the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024 and Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024, the bill provides for the imposition of biosecurity protection charges to be payable by certain producers of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products within Australia.
The bill: provides for a limit on market share for supermarket businesses, including enforced progressive divesture to 20 per cent over a 5-year period where necessary; and establishes a Commissioner for Food Retailing to administer limits on market share and promote competition and fairness principles.
Amends the: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 in relation to: lowering the disclosure threshold to $1,000; real-time disclosure of donations; prohibiting misleading or deceptive electoral or referendum matter; broadening the definition of gift; funding disclosure requirements; introduction of a major-donor donation cap; prohibiting certain political donations; limiting pre-election government advertising; and postal vote processes; and Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Do Not Call Register Act 2006 to provide that registered independent candidates are treated the same as political parties.
Amends the: Criminal Code Act 1995 to insert an offence provision relating to the posting of harmful material to increase notoriety; Online Safety Act 2021 to expand the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to include administering a complaints system for criminal activity material; and Crimes Act 1914 to enable a court to make an order directing a person to cease using certain online services.
Enshrines the objective of superannuation in legislation and requires a statement of compatibility to be included in the explanatory materials accompanying bills and regulations relating to superannuation.
Amends the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to enable the Manufacturing Division to de-merge from the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union.
Amends the Export Control Act 2020 to prohibit livestock sheep export by sea from Australian territory on and after 1 May 2026.
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: require actions that would emit between 25,000 to 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions in any one year to be assessed for approval under Part 9 of the Act; require the minister, when approving any such action or when considering whether to enter into a conservation agreement, to consider Australia’s national carbon budget and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; require the minister to reject the approval of actions that would emit over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions; require the Climate Change Authority to develop a national carbon budget to 2050 and to annually assess the budget; prohibit the minister, subject to certain exceptions, from using alternative approval processes for certain emissions intensive actions; and introduce penalties for undertaking certain emissions intensive actions without approval if the action has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment.
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to prohibit actions involving large-scale wind and solar energy projects that have, will have, or are likely to have a significant impact on the natural environment, unless done in accordance with an approval by the Minister under Part 9 of the Act.
Amends the Crimes Act 1914 to implement certain recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in relation to protections for vulnerable persons involved in Commonwealth criminal proceedings.
The bill: establishes the Defence Capability Assurance Agency as an statutory authority to conduct capability assurance of defence materiel programs and establish a qualified workforce to conduct test and evaluation and risk assessments for defence materiel programs; establishes the Inspector-General of Defence Capability Assurance to provide oversight of the Defence Department, the Defence Force and the Defence Capability Assurance Agency; and establishes the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence to provide oversight of the performance of the Defence Capability Assurance Agency and the Inspector-General and review and report on matters relating to the defence of Australia and defence agencies.
Amends the Australian Education Act 2013 to: redefine the Commonwealth share of funding for a government school to 25%; and introduce an obligation on the minister to be satisfied when determining the Commonwealth share that it is consistent with the objective that every school-aged child in Australia has access to a fully-funded government school.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to: provide that the consent of the Attorney-General will not be required for proceedings relating to genocide and related atrocity crimes; and remove the restrictions on review of decisions of the Attorney-General to give or refuse consent to institute proceedings for such offences.
Amends the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 to amend the definition of ‘human rights’ to include the rights and freedoms outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Amends the Customs Act 1901 to prohibit a person from importing goods involving child labour into Australia in certain circumstances where the importer has not complied with a notice in relation to the goods.
Amends 29 Acts to update certain references associated with the Crown to reflect the accession of a new Sovereign.
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to expand the circumstances in which certain petroleum mining developments must be assessed and approved by the minister.
Implements certain recommendations of the final report of the Senate Select Committee on Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre by: providing for a framework for digital asset exchanges, digital asset custody services and the issuing of stablecoins; requiring authorised deposit-taking institutions to comply with certain reporting requirements in relation to designated central bank digital currency; and providing for additional duties of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services in relation to the regulation of activities relating to digital assets and designated central bank digital currency.
The bill: amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to require the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to continue its price monitoring of domestic air passenger transport services and related goods and services for 3 years; and repeals the Competition and Consumer (Price Monitoring—Domestic Air Passenger Transport) Direction 2020.
Amends the: Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 to: provide for additional designated housing agreements to include model tenancy standards; and create an instrument-making power allowing the minister to make additional payments to the states on the basis that the states agree to adopt the model tenancy standards, which would include implementing controls on rents and a ban on no-grounds eviction; and Reserve Bank Act 1959 to: insert an object stating that, in relation to differences of opinion between the Reserve Bank and the Government on questions of policy, the Government is ultimately responsible for monetary and banking policy; and provide that orders made to determine monetary policy can include freezing interest rates for a specified period of time.
The bill: prohibits health practitioners from performing gender clinical interventions intended to transition a minor’s biological sex, subject to limited exemptions; and prohibits the Commonwealth from entering into arrangements involving the expenditure or payment of money that provides or facilitates the provision of such a procedure or treatment.
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to require petroleum production licensees to enter into a domestic reserve agreement with the Commonwealth.
The bill: establishes the Antipoverty Commission as a statutory authority to provide independent advice on poverty in Australia, the causes of poverty in Australia, approaches to reducing poverty in Australia and minimum levels for social security payments; and establishes a Parliamentary Joint Committee on combatting poverty in Australia.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to prohibit political donations being made by corporations or close associates of the corporation in certain circumstances.
Amends the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 to provide that indemnities cannot be granted to manufacturers of vaccines in relation to the use of a vaccine.
Establishes the Cannabis Australia National Agency as a statutory agency to register cannabis strains and regulate activities relating to cannabis including: growing and possessing cannabis plants; manufacturing and selling cannabis products; operating cannabis cafes; and importing and exporting cannabis products.
Amends the Copyright Act 1968 to remove restrictions limiting the Copyright Tribunal from: determining the amount payable to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to one per cent of the commercial broadcaster’s gross earnings; and determining the amount payable by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to an amount not exceeding 0.5 cents per head of the Australian population.
Amends the: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 in relation to prescribing consultation requirements with traditional owners, knowledge holders and other relevant persons when preparing environment plans; Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 in relation to: meaning of relevant person; and protection of cultural heritage; and Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011 to make a consequential amendment.
Amends the Climate Change Act 2022 to: require decision-makers to consider the health and wellbeing of children in Australia when making significant decisions; and require decision-makers not to make significant decisions in relation to the exploration or extraction of coal, oil or natural gas if the decision poses a material risk of harm to the health and wellbeing of children in Australia.
Introduced with the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 [No. 2] and National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023 [No. 2], the bill amends: the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018 to rename the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to Housing Australia; the renamed Housing Australia Act 2018 to: streamline the functions of Housing Australia; establish an annual review mechanism for the National Housing Infrastructure Facility; and extend the Commonwealth guarantee of the liabilities of Housing Australia to apply to contracts entered into until 30 June 2028; and 10 Acts to make consequential amendments.
Introduced with the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 [No. 2] and Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023 [No. 2], the bill establishes the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council as an independent advisory body to the Commonwealth Government on matters relating to housing supply and affordability.
Introduced with the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023 [No. 2] and Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023 [No. 2], the bill establishes the Housing Australia Future Fund to make grants, and enable Housing Australia to make grants and loans, in relation to acute housing needs, social housing or affordable housing.
Amends the: Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 and Intelligence Services Act 2001 to: expand the jurisdictions of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) to include the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Home Affairs; provide that the PJCIS may review proposed counter-terrorism and national security legislation, and all such expiring legislation; enable the PJCIS to request the IGIS to conduct an inquiry into certain operational activities of the agencies within the IGIS’s jurisdiction; clarify the legislation which enables the PJCIS to request a briefing from the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor; clarify the IGIS’s complaints jurisdiction; and make technical amendments; Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 and Office of National Intelligence Act 2018 to require the IGIS and the Office of National Intelligence to provide annual briefings to the PJCIS; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Act 2010 to require the IGIS to provide annual briefings to the committee; Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 to amend the review and access of ACIC criminal intelligence assessment records; and Criminal Code Act 1995 to include an exemption from civil and criminal liability for defence officials and others for certain computer-related conduct. Also makes consequential amendments to 15 Acts.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to ban gambling advertisements during the broadcast of live sporting events on television, radio and live streaming and for one hour before and after the event.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to: prevent employers from contacting employees outside of work hours; and provide that employees are not required to monitor, read or respond to work communications from their employer outside of work hours.
Reinstates measures that previously applied under the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012 which were aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm to vulnerable communities in the Northern Territory.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to prohibit a person from knowingly, and without reasonable excuse, displaying a Nazi symbol.
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.
Amends the Governor-General Act 1974 to cease the payment of allowances to a former Governor-General, or a spouse of a former Governor-General, where they have engaged in serious misconduct.
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to: cancel Petroleum Exploration Permit 11, and Petroleum Exploration Permit/T/49P (King Island, Tasmania); prevent any petroleum exploration leases for the Otway Basin/12 Apostles being granted; and prohibit any further petroleum exploration in the three areas.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to add COVID-19 vaccination status as an attribute protected from discrimination.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: lower the minimum voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to introduce three new offences relating to the incitement of trespass, property damage or theft and unlawful obstruction of traffic in central business districts and other centres of significant business or cultural activity in Australia.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: prohibit political donations from the fossil fuel industry, property developers, the tobacco industry, the banking industry, liquor and gambling businesses, pharmaceutical companies and representative organisations for these industries; impose a cumulative limit on political donations from any source of $3,000 per election term; and extend the definition of 'gift' to include subscription and membership fees, as well as attendance at fundraising events.
The bill: clarifies that children born alive are persons; requires health practitioners to provide medical care, treatment and statistics on children born alive as a result of terminations; and provides that the mother of a child born alive is not liable to prosecution for an offence in respect of that child.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to require that labour hire workers covered by certain modern awards receive at least the same rate of pay as other employees performing the same work.
Amends the: Higher Education Support Act 2003, Social Security Act 1991, Student Assistance Act 1973, Trade Support Loans Act 2014 and VET Student Loans Act 2016 to remove indexation on certain education and training loans; and Higher Education Support Act 2003, Social Security Act 1991 and Student Assistance Act 1973 to: define 'median wage'; and raise the minimum repayment income and amend the percentage of income a person is liable to repay the Commonwealth for certain education and training loans.
Amends the: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Act 2008 to require the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority to ensure that school education provides a balanced presentation of opposing views on political, historical and scientific issues; and Australian Education Act 2013 to make financial assistance to a state or territory conditional on the state or territory having certain laws in force.
Amends the Customs Act 1901 to prohibit the importation into Australia of goods that are produced in whole or in part by forced labour.
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: prevent the minister from approving an action which involves the clearing of koala habitat; and remove the exemption of regional forest agreements from requirements of the Act where there is, may, or is likely to have significant impacts on koalas.
Amends the: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 to remove the prohibition on the construction or operation of certain nuclear installations; and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to remove the prohibition on the Minister for Environment and Water declaring, approving or considering actions relating to the construction or operation of certain nuclear installations.
Establishes the National Energy Transition Authority as a statutory authority to plan, coordinate and provide advice on the transition to renewable energy, focusing on the facilitation of new economic opportunities for workers and communities who are currently involved in fossil fuel production and associated industries.
Amends the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987 to implement a recommendation of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to allow a royal commission, whose terms of reference require an examination of government, to analyse and draw inferences or conclusions from evidence that is subject to parliamentary privilege.
Amends the: Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to enable age pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients to have their payment suspended for up to two years, instead of cancelled, if their income, which includes some income from the recipient's own employment, precludes payment; and provide for the same suspension period for partners of the age pension, disability support pension and certain veterans' entitlements recipients, where the partner is receiving a social security pension or certain veterans' entitlements; Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to make minor amendments to the existing suspension provisions for disability support pensioners; and Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to: provide that working age pensioners, disability support pensioners and certain veterans' entitlements recipients, and their pensioner partners, can retain their pensioner concession card for up to two years after their payment ceases; and increase to $600 the amount of income age pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients can earn each fortnight while still receiving maximum pension payments and provide for a review, and sunsetting, of these amendments.
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002 to provide that forestry operations covered by a regional forest agreement are exempted from Part 3 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Amends the ]Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act 1997 to prohibit the Snowy Hydro Company and Snowy hydro-group companies from being involved in creating or investing in new fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity.
Requires the Treasurer to establish a Live Performance Federal Insurance Guarantee Fund to underwrite insurance for the live performance industry to enable future live performance events.
The bill: provides that Australian landholders have the right to refuse the undertaking of gas and coal mining activities by corporations on their land without prior written authorisation; sets out the requirements of a prior written authorisation; provides for relief which a court may grant a land owner when prior written authorisation is not provided; prohibits hydraulic fracturing for coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas by corporations; and provides for civil penalties.
Amends the: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: establish the Commonwealth Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to exercise the routine administrative regulatory functions currently undertaken by the Commonwealth in relation to the Act and other Commonwealth legislation relating to the environment and undertake certain functions relating to communities; establish an Office of Monitoring, Compliance, Enforcement and Assurance within the EPA; and establish the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Environment and Energy; and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Water Act 2007 to make consequential amendments.
The bill: requires the Minister for Energy and Emission Reduction to table in each House of Parliament an annual statement outlining Australia's strategy on electric vehicles; and provides for the reference of matters to the Productivity Commission, including Australia’s support for the manufacture, purchase and use of electric vehicles.
Amends the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 and Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 to prohibit the export and import of greyhounds for racing, breeding and commercial purposes.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to: require national broadcasters, commercial television broadcasting licensees and subscription television licensees to provide a minimum number of hours of television audio description per week; and provide for the Australian Communications and Media Authority to enforce and review the new requirement.
Amends the Customs Act 1901 to remove a duplicate definition.
Implements the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership by amending the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to provide a free rate of customs duty for certain originating goods of the United Kingdom; specify phasing rates of customs duty for certain originating goods of the United Kingdom that will incrementally reduce to free; and provide a safeguard that would restore the customs duty rate to the rate that applied before the commencement of the protocol for certain products.
Amends the: Crimes Act 1914, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 to clarify certain aspects of the framework relating to the seizure of digital assets; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to provide that information gathering powers and freezing orders apply to digital currency exchanges; Crimes Act 1914 to increase the Commonwealth penalty unit from $313 to $330; Telecommunications Act 1997 and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to clarify the functions of the Communications Access Coordinator in the Attorney-General’s Department and create the position of Communications Security Coordinator in the Department of Home Affairs; and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 in relation to information sharing between integrity agencies and oversight bodies.
Introduced with the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill establishes a framework to regulate the nuclear safety aspects of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine enterprise.
Introduced with the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023, the bill enables certain licences issued by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency to be treated as Australian naval nuclear power safety licences for the purposes of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Act 2023.
Amends the: Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 and Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995 to provide a superannuation contribution for people receiving parental leave pay in respect of children born (or regarded as having been born for the purposes of the Act) on or after 1 July 2025; Fair Work Act 2009 to make a minor technical amendment in relation to unpaid parental leave; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the: Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 to insert a modified ‘equal access’ cost protection provision in relation to federal unlawful discrimination court proceedings; and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 and Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the National Health Act 1953 to clarify the operation of provisions relating to pricing and supply arrangements for older and low-cost medicines that are more susceptible to medicine shortages.
Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 and 8 other Acts to implement recommendations by the Council of Financial Regulators in relation to Australia’s financial market infrastructure by: introducing a crisis management and resolution regime for domestic clearing and settlement (CS) facilities; expanding the licensing, supervisory and enforcement powers of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA); and transferring certain powers relating to the licensing and supervision of CS facilities and financial markets to ASIC and the RBA; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and Corporations Act 2001 to phase-in new climate-related financial reporting requirements for entities; and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Corporations Act 2001 and Insurance Act 1973 to make minor and technical amendments.
Gives effect to recommendations of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces by amending the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023 to: establish the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC) as a workplace investigation framework for Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces; and establish the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Parliamentary Standards to provide oversight of the IPSC. Also amends 5 other Acts consequential on the establishment of the IPSC.
Introduced with the Net Zero Economy Authority (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024, the bill establishes the Net Zero Economy Authority to promote economic transformation as Australia transitions to a net zero emissions economy.
Amends the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 to: enable testing of timber products at the border and beyond to ensure non-compliant illegally logged timber is not imported; introduce a requirement for importers and processors to give notice before importing or processing regulated timber products; add strict liability offences, injunctions and enforceable undertakings to enforcement powers; enable audits to be carried out to determine compliance with the due diligence requirements; and extend the time frame for issuing infringement notices to 24 months and enable the department to publish details of contraventions on their website.
Amends the Telecommunications Act 1997 to require the Australian Communications and Media Authority to establish and maintain an SMS Sender ID Register.
Introduced with the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024, the bill provides for transitional arrangements relating to the establishment of the Net Zero Economy Authority.
Amends the: National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 to: define National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) supports; clarify the process for reassessment of participant status; provide for participants to transition to a new framework plan; provide for new framework plans that include a flexible budget and budget for stated supports; provide for old framework plans to have a total funding amount; update the circumstances in which the National Disability Insurance Agency will manage funds; require participants spend money only on NDIS supports and in accordance with their plan; exempt NDIS rules from sunsetting; impose conditions on approved quality auditors to not employ or engage a person against whom a banning order has been made; and expand the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner’s delegation powers. Also makes consequential amendments to the Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015.
Introduced with the Customs Amendment (Strengthening and Modernising Licensing and Other Measures) Bill 2024, the bill amends the Customs Licensing Charges Act 1997 to align licence renewal payment requirements and calculations across the licensing regime for customs brokers, depots and warehouses; and rectify deficiencies found in calculating depot licence renewal fees.
Introduced with the Customs Licensing Charges Amendment Bill 2024, the bill amends the: Customs Act 1901 to: streamline processes and requirements for the licensing regime for customs brokers, depots and warehouses; and enable the digitisation of certain applications and forms; and AusCheck Act 2007 to enable the disclosure of information relating to transport security identification cards.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to strengthen offences targeting the creation and non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit material online, including material that has been created or altered using AI technology (commonly referred to as ‘deepfakes’).
Amends the: Criminal Code Act 1995 to: extend for a further 3 years the declared areas offence that is scheduled to sunset on 7 September 2024; and provide that the provisions under which the Minister for Foreign Affairs can declare an area for the purpose of the declared areas offence also cease to have effect on 7 September 2024; and Intelligence Services Act 2001 to remove an obsolete provision which provides for the Parliamentary Joint committee on Intelligence and Security to review the declared areas provisions before 7 January 2024.
Amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to establish action initiation reforms, enabling consumer data right (CDR) consumers to direct accredited persons to instruct on actions on their behalf, such as making a payment, opening and closing an account, switching providers and updating personal details, using the CDR framework.
Amends the Public Service Act 1999 to clarify the powers of the Australian Public Service Commissioner to inquire into and determine alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct by current and former Agency Heads.
Amends the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to place the Construction and General Division (and its branches) of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union into administration.
Amends: the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to provide a legal basis for payment of advice fees from a member’s superannuation account and clarify the associated tax consequences; the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to: ongoing fee renewal and consent requirements; financial services guide requirements; rules banning conflicted remuneration; and standardised consumer consent requirements for certain insurance commissions; the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Assessment Act 1987 to: align the petroleum resource rent tax general anti-avoidance provisions with the general anti-avoidance provisions in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936; and clarify the meaning of ‘exploration for petroleum’; the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to: clarify mining, quarrying or prospecting rights (MQPRs) cannot be depreciated for income tax purposes until they are used; clarify when income tax balancing adjustments occur to MQPRs; and amend the location offset and producer offset for films; 15 Acts to amend the process by which amendments to agreements with multilateral development banks are incorporated into domestic legislation; and 8 Acts to make miscellaneous and technical amendments to Treasury portfolio legislation.
Amends the: A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999, Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to increase the maximum rates of Commonwealth rent assistance by 10 per cent; Social Security Act 1991 to increase jobseeker payment for certain recipients who have an assessed partial capacity to work due to physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment; and Social Security Act 1991 and Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to expand the circumstances in which a carer may temporarily cease providing care without losing eligibility for the carer payment.
Introduced with the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023 and Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill provides for payments to recipient bodies, Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia and for crediting to the National Residue Survey Special Account of amounts connected with various levies and charges imposed on behalf of Australia’s primary industries.
Introduced with the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 and Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill replaces the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 by providing for the collection and administration of levies and charges under the agricultural levy system.
Introduced with the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 and Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill enables the regulations to impose levies on services that facilitate the production of products that are produce of a primary industry.
Introduced with the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 and Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill enables the regulations to impose excise levies in relation to products that are produce of a primary industry, goods consumed by, or used in the maintenance or treatment of, animals, plants, fungi or algae and goods connected with nursery products.
Introduced with the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 and Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill enables the regulations to impose customs charges in relation to products that are produce of a primary industry and goods consumed by, or used in the maintenance or treatment of, animals, plants, fungi or algae.
Introduced with the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Bill 2023, Primary Industries (Services) Levies Bill 2023, Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2023 and Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Bill 2023 to establish a new framework for the agricultural levy system, the bill repeals 23 Acts; and makes consequential amendments to 13 Acts.
Amends the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 to implement recommendations of the statutory review of the Act and make other amendments in relation to the operation of the Payment Times Reporting Scheme.
Amends the National Health Act 1953 to: introduce an additional community supply support payment for eligible supplies of pharmaceutical benefits made by approved pharmacists; freeze indexation of the general patient co-payment for 1 year and indexation of the concessional co-payments for 5 years; phase-out the $1 allowable discount that pharmacies can choose to offer to patients; and make minor technical amendments.
Amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 to update the ‘assignment of Medicare benefit’ requirements for bulk billed and simplified billing services.
Amends the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to enable the Manufacturing Division to de-merge from the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, if supported by a ballot of relevant members.
Amends the Export Control Act 2020 to: prohibit the export from Australia of live sheep by sea on and after 1 May 2028; and enable the minister to make arrangements for payments or grants of financial assistance for certain activities relating to the phasing out of export of live sheep by sea.
Introduced with the Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2024, the bill amends the Excise Tariff Act 1921 to increase rates of duty for tobacco goods from 1 September 2023.
Introduced with the Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2024, the bill amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to increase rates of duty for tobacco goods from 1 September 2023.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to increase penalties for causing harm, or threatening to cause harm, to a Commonwealth public official who is also a Commonwealth frontline worker.
Amends the Creative Australia Act 2023 to establish First Nations Arts and Writing Australia within Creative Australia and expand the governance structure of Creative Australia.
Amends the: Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 to establish a framework to regulate the accessibility and prominence of free-to-air television services on certain internet connected television devices supplied in Australia; and Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to expand the anti-siphoning scheme to include online services.
Amends the: Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 to: enable the disclosure of information and documents to prescribed persons; extend the operation of secondary disclosure provisions; expand the range of permissible circumstances in which a mail article may be opened and examined by Australia Post and border agencies; streamline certain administrative arrangements; and make minor and technical amendments; and Criminal Code Act 1995 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 and 23 other Acts to update references to COAG and Ministerial Councils to reflect the cessation of the Council of Australian Governments and changes to intergovernmental architecture.
Amends the: Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to: increase the instant asset write-off threshold from $1,000 to $20,000 for the 2023-24 financial year; and provide small and medium businesses with access to a bonus tax deduction for the 2023-24 financial year relating to electrification and more efficient energy use; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, Taxation Administration Act 1953 and A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999 to facilitate certain community charities achieving deductible gift recipient status; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to: include two new entities on the list of deductible gift recipients and extend the listing for two other entities; extend the Global Infrastructure Hub’s income tax exemption for an additional year; broadly align existing tax requirements with a new accounting standard for insurance contracts; and amend the rules for non-arm’s length expenses for superannuation entities; Corporations Act 2001 to reinstate the Australian Financial Complaint Authority’s jurisdiction to hear certain complaints relating to superannuation; and Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Law Improvement Package No. 1) Act 2023 to make contingent amendments.
Amends the Governor-General Act 1974 to set the salary for the next Governor-General.
Amends the: Customs Act 1901 and Excise Act 1901 to: remove renewal requirements and renewal fees for excise and excise-equivalent warehouse licences; confer a new discretion to issue entity level excise and excise-equivalent warehouse licences; and establish a public register of excise and excise-equivalent warehouses licences and licensed premises; and Excise Tariff Act 1921 to remove licence requirements for certain onshore producers of crude oil and condensate. Also makes consequential and minor amendments to 4 Acts.
Amends the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to provide a national framework to regulate the importation, domestic manufacture, supply, commercial possession and advertisement of all vapes, irrespective of nicotine content or therapeutic claims. Also makes consequential amendments to the Customs Act 1901, Industrial Chemicals Act 2019 and Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2023-2024 and Appropriation Act (No. 4) 2023-2024.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2023-2024 and Appropriation Act (No. 3) 2023-2024.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments.
Responding to certain recommendations of the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service (the Thodey Review), the bill amends the Public Service Act 1999 to: include a new Australian Public Service (APS) Value of ‘Stewardship’; require the Secretaries Board to prepare an APS Purpose Statement; require agency heads to uphold and promote the APS Purpose Statement; provide that ministers must not direct agency heads on individual employment matters; require agency heads to put in place measures to enable decision-making to occur at the lowest appropriate classification; require regular capability reviews; require the Secretaries Board to request and publish regular long-term insights reports; require agencies to publish annual APS Employee Census results and respond to relevant findings through an action plan; and remove the requirement to seek the APS Commissioner’s consent to delegate powers and functions to Australian Defence Force members.
Amends the: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to implement the outcomes of the Offshore Oil and Gas Safety Review; Navigation Act 1912 and Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to clarify the validity of vessel safety certificates when a disconnectable facility transitions between the maritime and offshore petroleum regimes; Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to: ensure that an approval of taking actions in accordance with a policy, plan or program remains effective following amendments to environmental regulations; enable the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority to specify the timeframe for a person to comply with a remedial direction; clarify the spatial extent of an eligible greenhouse gas storage formation; and make minor and technical amendments.
Amends the Modern Slavery Act 2018 to establish the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner as an independent statutory office holder within the Attorney-General’s portfolio to provide an independent mechanism for victims and survivors, business and civil society to engage on issues and strategies to address modern slavery.
Amends the: Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Corporations Act 2001, Judiciary Act 1903, National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 to confer jurisdiction on the Federal Court of Australia to hear and determine a range of summary and indictable offences relating to conduct within the remit of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 to enable the Sheriff of the Federal Court to require a state or territory jury official to prepare and provide a jury panel; Marriage Act 1961 to make technical amendments in relation to the Commonwealth Marriage Celebrants Program and the notice of intended marriage; and Family Law Act 1975, Native Title Act 1993, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 and Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 to make minor and technical amendments.
Introduced with the Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 1) Bill 2023, the bill establishes the Administrative Review Tribunal as a replacement for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Also re-establishes the Administrative Review Council.
Amends the: Tax Agent Services Act 2009 and Taxation Administration Act 1953: to expand the operation of the promoter penalty provisions; and enable the sharing of certain protected information; Taxation Administration Act 1953 to extend whistleblower protections to eligible whistleblowers who make disclosures to the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB); and reverse the burden of proof for certain claims of protection; Tax Agent Services Act 2009 in relation to the TPB Register and the TPB’s delegation powers; and Petroleum Resource Rent Tax Assessment Act 1987 to limit the proportion of petroleum resource rent tax assessable income that can be offset by deductions to 90 per cent.
Amends the: Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Telecommunications Act 1997 and Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards Act 1999 to amend the operation of the statutory infrastructure provider regime; Telecommunications Act 1997 to enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to issue remedial notices to developers who do not install functional fibre-ready facilities in proximity to a development; Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 to enable the disclosure by the ACMA of certain information; Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 to enable the minister to determine service areas that relate to a primary universal service provider; and Telecommunications Act 1997 and Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999 to make technical amendments.
Introduced with the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2024, the bill establishes a vehicle efficiency standard to regulate the carbon dioxide emissions of certain road vehicles.
Introduced with the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024, the bill amends the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2018 and Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the new vehicle efficiency standard.
Amends the National Health Act 1953 and Health Insurance Act 1973 to remove the requirement for a collaborative arrangement between an eligible nurse practitioner or eligible midwife and a medical practitioner to enable that midwife or practitioner to prescribe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines or provide services under Medicare.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to provide that contravening a Fair Work Commission order which deals with the employee right to disconnect would not expose a person to a criminal penalty.
Consequential on the Administrative Review Tribunal Bill 2023 and Administrative Review Tribunal (Consequential and Transitional Provisions No. 2) Bill 2023, the bill amends 110 Acts to update certain references.
Introduced with the Administrative Review Tribunal Bill 2023, the bill: abolishes the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by repealing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975; and makes amendments to 138 Acts consequential on the establishment of the Administrative Review Tribunal.
Responds to the Federal Court decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Douglas [2020] FCAFC 220 by amending the Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to provide a clear legal basis for the assessment of income from certain military invalidity pensions.
Amends the: Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority Act 2017, Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 and two related instruments to respond to certain recommendations of the Independent Review of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 and Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority Act 2017 in relation to parliamentary business resources and special purpose aircraft travel; National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 to make consequential and technical amendments; and Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 and two other Acts to provide that members’ remuneration is payable on a fortnightly rather than monthly basis.
Amends the National Cancer Screening Register Act 2016 to add lung cancer in the definition of ‘designated cancer’ and in the coverage of the National Cancer Screening Register.
Amends the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 to remove certain limiting words from section 32B (which confers power on the Commonwealth to make, vary or administer an arrangement or grant) and section 39B (which confers power on the Commonwealth to form a company, participate in the formation of a company, acquire shares in a company or become a member of a company). Also makes consequential amendments to 7 Acts and contingent amendments to 2 Acts.
Introduced with the Digital ID (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill: establishes an accreditation scheme for entities providing digital ID services; expands the Australian Government Digital ID System; and provides for privacy safeguards and a range of governance arrangements, including establishing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as the Digital ID Regulator and expanding the role of the Information Commissioner to regulate privacy protections for digital IDs.
Introduced with the Digital ID Bill 2023, the bill makes consequential amendments to 6 Acts; and provides for transitional arrangements.
Amends the: Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 to amend administrative processes in relation to governance and appointments; and Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 to make consequential and technical amendments. Also repeals the Rural Adjustment Act 1992 and provides for the transfer of records and documents of the National Rural Advisory Council.
Amends the: Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 in relation to: the framework for security assessments; and security vetting and security clearance related activities; Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, Intelligence Services Act 2001 and 10 other Acts in relation to: the protection of the identities of Australian Secret Intelligence Service, Australian Signals Directorate and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation staff; and the protection of intelligence information and documents; and Intelligence Services Act 2001, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 in relation to authorisation processes for certain intelligence activities.
Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 to require Australian public companies to disclose information about their subsidiaries in their annual financial reports by way of a ‘consolidated entity disclosure statement’; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1936, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to amend the thin capitalisation rules to limit the amount of debt deductions that multinational entities can claim in an income year.
Introduced with the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2024, the bill amends the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 to clarify any uncertainty associated with the interaction between certain taxes, such as foreign investment fees and similar state and territory property taxes, and double tax agreements implemented domestically.
Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Foreign Investment) Bill 2024, the bill amends the: Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Act 2015 to: increase the fee cap from $1,119,100 to $7,000,000; and amend the indexation provisions; and Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Regulations 2020 to: increase the fees for giving notice in relation to the acquisition of established dwellings, and the vacancy fees for established and new residential dwellings acquired on or after 7.30 pm on 9 May 2017; and amend the indexation provisions.
Amends the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 to: regulate the supply of certain military or dual-use goods and technology on the Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) from Australia to certain foreign persons both within and outside of Australia; regulate the provision of services in relation to DSGL Part 1 military goods or technology to foreign persons or entities; and remove the requirement to obtain a permit for supplies of certain DSGL goods and technology and the provision of certain DSGL services to the United Kingdom or the United States.
Amends the Defence Act 1903 to establish a framework to regulate the work that certain former defence staff members (foreign work restricted individuals) can perform without a foreign work authorisation; and the training that Australian citizens and permanent residents, other than foreign restricted individuals, may provide without a foreign work authorisation.
Amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to: provide that goods covered by the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the European Space Agency for a Co-operative Space Vehicle Tracking Program are eligible for a free rate of customs duty; extend for a further year the free rate of customs duty for certain goods that are the produce or manufacture of Ukraine; provide a free rate of customs duty for certain goods that are imported for use in connection with an international sporting event; and extend for a further 2 years the increase in customs duties for imported goods that are the produce or manufacture of Russia or Belarus.
Amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to establish a designated complaints functions within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and Radiocommunications Act 1992 to: enable the continuation of terrestrial community television to audiences in Melbourne and Adelaide beyond the current expiry date of 30 June 2024; and provide the Australian Communications and Media Authority with certain instrument-making powers; and Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to harmonise the code of practice arrangements.
Amends the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 to specify that individuals and/or entities can be validly sanctioned based on their past conduct or status.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2023-2024.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2023-2024.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 2023-2024.
Amends the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 and Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 to: ensure interim period determinations relating to a person’s percentage of care for a child can be made in a broad range of circumstances, including where an earlier care determination has been revoked; and ensure the validity of certain previous interim period determinations.
Amends the: National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 in relation to: the automatic lapse of a registered training organisation (RTO); preventing an RTO from adding new courses to its scope of registration in the first 2 years of registration; increasing the period within which the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator can conduct an internal review of decisions; the order of initial applications for registration; suspension of applications for registration; offence and civil penalty provisions for false and misleading representations made by RTOs; and an increase in penalty units; and National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Transitional Provisions) Act 2011 to provide for transitional arrangements.
Amends the: National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse Act 2018 to: amend existing processes and concepts relating to review of determinations, treatment of serious criminal convictions and applications by persons in gaol, and the disclosure of protected information; make technical amendments; and provide for the reassessment of determinations on certain finalised applications.
Amends the: Australian Research Council Act 2001 to: amend the object of the act in relation to the role and mission of the Australian Research Council (ARC); establish the Australian Research Council Board; amend the current funding arrangements; specify new requirements for the ARC annual report; and enable the minister to make transitional rules.
Amends the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 to: increase the maximum period of flexible paid parental leave by 2 weeks each year from 1 July 2024 to 26 weeks from 1 July 2026; increase the reserved period for partnered claimants by one week each year from 1 July 2025 to 4 weeks from 1 July 2026; increase the number of days that can be taken concurrently by multiple claimants to 4 weeks by 1 July 2025; and make minor and technical amendments relating to eligibility for parental leave pay in exceptional circumstances.
Amends the Passenger Movement Charge Act 1978 to increase the rate of the passenger movement charge from $60 to $70 from 1 July 2024.
Amends the: Criminal Code Act 1995 to: extend the foreign bribery offence to include the bribery of candidates for public office and bribery conducted to obtain a personal advantage; remove the requirement that a benefit or business advantage be ‘not legitimately due’ and replace it with the concept of ‘improperly influencing’ a foreign public official; remove the requirement that the foreign public official be influenced in the exercise of their official duties; clarify that the foreign bribery offence does not require the prosecution to prove that the accused had a specific business, or business or personal advantage, in mind, and that the business, or business or personal advantage, can be obtained for someone else; and create an offence of failure of a body corporate to prevent foreign bribery by an associate; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to preserve the existing rule which prohibits a person from claiming as a deduction for a loss or outgoing a bribe to a foreign public official.
Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Tax Cuts) Bill 2024, the bill amends the A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999 and Medicare Levy Act 1986 to: increase the Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge low-income threshold amounts for individuals, families and individual taxpayers and families eligible for the seniors and pensioners tax offset; and increase the phase-in limits as a result of the increased threshold amounts.
Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living—Medicare Levy) Bill 2024, the bill amends the Income Tax Rates Act 1986 to modify income tax rate thresholds and tax rates for individuals for the 2024-25 and later financial years.
This bill is the result of the Senate dividing the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 (original bill) into two bills. On 7 December 2023 the House of Representatives accepted the Senate’s action in dividing the bill. This page shows the procedural history of the original bill up to the time it was divided, and the title and description of the bill as divided by the Senate (see sheet PU108 of amendments to the original bill). For copies of the explanatory memoranda and amendments circulated to the original bill, see the homepage of the original bill. This bill amends the: Fair Work Act 2009 in relation to: casual employment; enabling multiple franchisees to access the single-enterprise stream; transitioning from multi-enterprise agreements; model terms; intractable bargaining workplace determinations; workplace delegates’ rights; sham contracting; exemptions to waive entry requirements for suspected underpayment and increasing maximum penalties for underpayments; compliance notices; the definition of employment; minimum standards and increased dispute resolution for employee-like workers performing digital platform work and regulated road transport industry contractors; and removal of a sunsetted clause relating to applications to vary modern awards; Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to remove provisions relating to the withdrawal of parts of amalgamated organisations; and Independent Contractors Act 2006 to provide that the Act applies to independent contractors performing work remunerated at an amount exceeding the new contractor high income threshold; and Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Administration Act 1992 in relation to the appointment of certain directors to the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation.
Amends the: Migration Act 1958 to: establish criminal offences and associated civil penalty provisions for a person who unduly influences, pressures or coerces a non-citizen to breach a work-related condition of their visa or accept an exploitative work arrangement to meet a work-related condition of their visa; enable the minister to prohibit certain employers from employing any additional non-citizens and introduce associated offence and civil penalty provisions; require the minister to publish certain information about a prohibited employer; increase and align the maximum criminal and civil penalties for current and proposed work-related and employer-sponsored related breaches; trigger the enforceable undertaking provisions in the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014; provide for enforceable compliance notices where an officer suspects a contravention of a work or sponsorship-related offence or related provision; remove the criminal offence of breaching a work-related visa condition and insert an avoidance of doubt clause for remaining work-related offence provisions; and enable the Migration Regulations 1994 to prescribe matters the minister may, must or must not take into account when considering the exercise of the power to cancel visas on certain grounds.
Introduced with the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill consolidates the existing tobacco control framework and introduces new measures to regulate the advertising and presentation of tobacco and e-cigarette (vaping) products.
Introduced with the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023, the bill: repeals the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 and Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011; and makes consequential amendments to 6 Acts.
Introduced with the Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, the bill creates a national framework for a voluntary national biodiversity market.
Introduced with the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 to create a national framework for a voluntary national biodiversity market, the bill amends the: Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011 to: provide for the use and disclosure of protected information; provide for the minister to consult with the biodiversity minister before giving a direction about the Clean Energy Regulator’s powers and functions; amend the functions of the regulator to include functions conferred on it by a biodiversity law; include additional requirements for a person to be appointed as a member of the regulator; and provide for the delegation of the regulator’s functions and powers; and National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 to: provide that the minister may determine requirements for the conduct of audits by registered greenhouse and energy auditors; and provide for a register of greenhouse and energy auditors.
Responds to recommendations of the independent review of Infrastructure Australia (IA) by amending the Infrastructure Australia Act 2008 to amend the functions and governance structure of IA.
Introduced with the Identity Verification Services (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, the bill provides a framework to support the operation of identity verification services.
Introduced with the Identity Verification Services Bill 2023, the bill amends the Australian Passports Act 2005 to enable automated disclosures of personal information to a specified person via the Document Verification Service or the Face Verification Service.
Amends the: Fair Work Act 2009 in relation to: casual employment; small business redundancy exemptions in insolvency contexts; enabling multiple franchisees to access the single-enterprise stream; transitioning from multi-enterprise agreements; model terms; regulated labour hire arrangement orders; workplace delegates’ rights; discrimination against employees subjected to family and domestic violence; sham contracting; exemptions to waive entry requirements for suspected underpayment and increasing maximum penalties for underpayments; compliance notices; introduction of a criminal offence for wage theft; the definition of employment; minimum standards and increased dispute resolution for employee-like workers performing digital platform work and regulated road transport industry contractors; and removal of a sunsetted clause relating to applications to vary modern awards; Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to remove provisions relating to the withdrawal of parts of amalgamated organisations; Independent Contractors Act 2006 to provide that the Act applies to independent contractors performing work remunerated at an amount exceeding the new contractor high income threshold; Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 to expand the functions of the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency in relation to silica safety and silica-related diseases; Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 to implement presumptive liability provisions for first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder; and Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to: introduce an offence of industrial manslaughter; and amend the offences and penalties framework.
Amends the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to: prohibit the use of credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency as payment methods for interactive wagering services; expand the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s compliance and enforcement powers; and make consequential amendments and remove spent provisions.
Amends the: Crimes Act 1914 and Criminal Code Act 1995 to: establish criminal offences for the public display of prohibited Nazi and Islamic State symbols and the trading of goods that bear a prohibited Nazi or Islamic State symbol; establish criminal offences for using a carriage service for violent extremist material and possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage service; Criminal Code Act 1995 to: expand the offence of advocating terrorism to include instructing on the doing of a terrorist act and praising the doing of a terrorist act in specified circumstances; and increase the maximum penalty for the offence of advocating terrorism from 5 to 7 years imprisonment; and Criminal Code Act 1995 and Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015 to remove the sunsetting requirement for instruments which list terrorist organisations and bolster safeguards.
Establishes the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee to provide advice related to the Commonwealth Government’s policies, programs and responsibilities for enhancing economic inclusion and participation.
Amends the Water Act 2007 and Basin Plan 2012 to: expand the type of projects that can deliver the Basin Plan target of 450 gigalitres (GL) of additional environmental water; repeal the statutory 1,500 GL cap on Commonwealth water purchases; enable funds from the Water for the Environment Special Account to be used to enhance environmental outcomes in the Basin; provide additional time for Basin States to deliver Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Adjustment Mechanism projects; enable the Inspector-General of Water Compliance to determine SDL compliance and require action plans; provide for a roadmap for the delivery of constraints relaxation projects across the Southern Basin; delay the review of the Act from 2024 until 2027; and implement recommendations of the Water market reform: final roadmap report in relation to water markets and water management in the Basin. Also amends the Water Act 2007 to make technical amendments in relation to First Ministers’ Council; and makes consequential amendments to the Water Act 2007 and Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
Further to the Migration Amendment (Bridging Visa Conditions) Act 2023, which responded to the High Court’s judgement in NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs & Anor (S28/2023), the bill amends the Migration Act 1958 to: provide for additional conditions to be placed on bridging visas granted to non-citizens released from immigration detention; and clarify the authority for the collection and use of information gathered by an electronic monitoring device.
In response to the High Court’s judgments in Alexander v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] HCA 19 and Benbrika v Minister for Home Affairs [2023] HCA 33, the bill amends the: Australian Citizenship Act 2007 to remove certain invalid provisions and enable the minister to make an application to request that a court exercise its power to make an order to cease a dual citizen’s Australian citizenship, where the person has been convicted of a serious offence or offences; Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010 and Intelligence Services Act 2001 to provide for reviews; and Surveillance Devices Act 2004 to make a consequential amendment.
Amends the: Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Act 2019 to expand the functions of the office of the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports to include monitoring, investigation and reporting on the implementation of animal welfare and live animal exports legislation and standards in relation to livestock exports and rename it to the office of the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports; and National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 to make consequential amendments.
Introduced with the Disability Services and Inclusion (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill replaces the Disability Services Act 1986 by establishing a framework for the funding and regulation of programs for the benefit of people with disability, and their families and carers.
Amends the: Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to provide eligible social security pensioners over age pension age, and certain veterans’ entitlement recipients over qualifying age, with a $4,000 work bonus concession balance on commencement and a permanent increase to the maximum concession balance they can accrue; Social Security Act 1991 to enable eligible social security recipients, including recipients who take up full-time work, to access an extended employment income nil rate period of 24 weeks; and A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 and A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977, Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to: ensure that certain provisions which provide legislative authority for expenditure on employment programs operate as intended; and make other minor technical amendments.
Amends the Ministers of State Act 1952 to require the Official Secretary to the Governor-General to publish a notifiable instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation to advise that the Governor-General has chosen, summoned and sworn an Executive Councillor to the Federal Executive Council, appointed an officer to administer a Department of State of the Commonwealth, directed a Minister of State to hold an office, or has revoked any of these positions.
Introduced with the Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023, the bill: repeals the Disability Services Act 1986; and makes consequential amendments to 14 Acts.
Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 to: allow the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to approve applications from one or more licensees to register on the Financial Advisers Register the same relevant provider; and allow assisted decision-making to be used for any purpose for which ASIC may make decisions in the performance or exercise of its functions or powers to register a relevant provider; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to: provide the Australian Accounting Standards Board with functions to develop and formulate sustainability standards; expand the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board's functions to include formulating auditing and assurance standards for sustainability purposes; and expand the Financial Reporting Council's oversight and governance powers to account for the development of sustainability standards; Tax Agent Services Act 2009 to implement certain recommendations of the Review of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) by: amending the objects clause of the Act; creating a special account for the TPB; requiring tax practitioners not to employ or use a disqualified entity without the TPB's approval, or enter an arrangement with a disqualified entity; converting the registration period from at least every three years to at least every year; and enabling the minister to supplement the existing Code of Professional Conduct; Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to align the income tax treatment of off-market share buy-backs undertaken by listed public companies with on-market share buy-backs; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to: ensure the alignment of tax treatment across capital management activities for listed public companies; and prevent certain distributions that are funded by capital raisings from being frankable.
Amends the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999, Higher Education Support Act 2003, Social Security Act 1991 and VET Student Loans Act 2016 to extend eligibility for certain supports and benefits to Pacific Engagement Visa holders and eligible Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme workers and their families.
Amends the: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 to provide a judge of Division 2 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) with the same protection and immunity as a judge of Division 1 of the FCFCOA; and Family Law Act 1975 to make a consequential amendment.
Gives effect to Australia’s obligations arising out of the 2009 and 2013 amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 by amending the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 to: enable a permit to be granted for the export of carbon dioxide streams from carbon dioxide capture processes for the purpose of sequestration into a sub-seabed geological formation; enable a permit to be granted for the placement of wastes or other matter for a marine geoengineering activity for the purpose of scientific research; and make minor consequential and technical amendments.
Amends the: Crimes Act 1914 to clarify the Attorney-General’s duty to make, or refuse to make, a parole order after the non-parole period has ended; Criminal Code Act 1995, Customs Act 1901 and Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 to enhance import controls on substances that are commonly used as illicit drugs and precursors but which also have legitimate uses in industry (dual-use substances). Also validates things done in reliance on certain authorisations or determinations by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Board.
Amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 in relation to the Professional Services Review (PSR) Scheme by amending the requirements for qualification of committee members, clarifying that references to a practitioner include a practitioner who is not currently registered, clarifying the requirements for a person under review notifying a committee that they are unable to attend a hearing due to medical reasons, and enabling the Director to extend the 12-month review period in certain circumstances.
Amends the: Crimes Act 1914 to: extend the sunset date for certain police powers in relation to terrorism; impose certain requirements on the minister and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner in relation to prescribed security zones; and require a police officer exercising certain powers to inform a person of their right to make a complaint; and Criminal Code Act 1995 to: extend the sunset date for the control order and preventative detention order (PDO) regimes; limit the power to issues control orders to the Federal Court of Australia; align control order conditions with extended supervision conditions; enable the variation of a control order by consent; limit the classes of persons who may be appointed as an issuing authority for PDOs to superior court judges; provide for annual report requirements; and extend the operation of provisions in relation to unauthorised disclosure of information by Commonwealth officers. Also makes consequential amendments to 3 Acts.
Introduced with the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, the bill establishes the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry to provide access to information about occupational respiratory diseases and support the identification of industries, occupations, job tasks and workplaces where there is a risk of exposure to respiratory disease-causing agents.
Amends the: Bankruptcy Act 1966 to regularise and validate the administrative processes of the Australian Financial Security Authority and its predecessors in relation to determining when a statement of affairs is taken to have been filed for the purposes of a debtor’s petition or as required in relation to a sequestration order; and Bankruptcy Regulations 2021 to align the dates that the Official Receiver is required to enter in the National Personal Insolvency Index with the amendments to the Bankruptcy Act 1966.
Amends the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 to: establish a framework for the execution of Commonwealth statutory declarations which includes traditional paper-based, electronic and digitally verified execution; provide for a review of the operation of the Act; and make minor and technical amendments.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 in response to the High Court’s judgement in NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs & Anor (S28/2023) to provide for certain conditions to be placed on bridging visas granted to non-citizens released from immigration detention.
Amends the: Olympic Insignia Protection Act 1987 to: clarify that only the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are permitted to register Olympic insignia as trade marks in Australia; and provide for the rejection of trade mark applications not made by the AOC or IOC; Trade Marks Act 1995 to: align grace periods for payment of a fee for renewal of a trade mark registration to a consistent 6 month duration, whether registration of a trade mark application is delayed or not; clarify provisions dealing with the revocation of the registration of a trade mark where a component of a notice of opposition to registration of that trade mark has been overlooked; permit restoration of a trade mark to the Register of Trade Marks if an extension of time is obtained to file evidence in support of an opposition to the trade mark removal; and remove references to the Official Journal of Trade Marks; and Patents Act 1990 to remove spent transitional and savings provisions that have had no effect from February 2022.
Introduced with the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill 2023, the bill amends the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to exempt protected information included in the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry from disclosure under the Act.
Amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to: expand eligibility for places in demand driven higher education courses to First Nations students; and remove the current requirement that students must pass 50 per cent of the units they study to remain eligible for a Commonwealth supported place and FEE-HELP assistance and instead require higher education providers to support students to successfully complete the units of study in which they are enrolled.
Amends the: Family Law Act 1975 to: amend the parenting order framework by refining the list of ‘best interests’ factors, removing the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility and related equal time and substantial and significant time provision, and clarifying the circumstances in which a court can vary an existing parenting order; redraft provisions relating to compliance with, and enforcement of, parenting orders; amend definitions relating to the concept of ‘family’ to be more inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and traditions; permit the appointment of independent children’s lawyers (ICLs) in matters brought under the Hague Convention and require ICLs to meet with a child and give them an opportunity to express a view; clarify restrictions on communicating identifiable information arising in family proceedings; and enable standards and requirements to be prescribed for professionals who prepare family reports; Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 to make consequential amendments; Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 to: allow registrars of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) to be delegated the power to impose a make-up time parent order in contravention proceedings; bring forward the review of the Act by 2 years; and provide that a judge of the Family Court of Western Australia can be dually appointed as a judge of Division 1 of the FCFCOA; and Family Law Act 1975 and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 to introduce ‘harmful proceedings orders’ and extend the ‘overarching purpose of family law practice and procedure’ and the accompanying duty to all proceedings instituted under the Family Law Act 1975.
Gives effect to the National Strategic Framework for Information Sharing between the Family Law and Family Violence and Child Protection Systems by amending the Family Law Act 1975 to expand the information sharing framework for information relating to family violence, child abuse and neglect risks in parenting proceedings before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and the Family Court of Western Australia.
Introduced with the Migration (Visa Pre-application Process) Charge Bill 2023, the bill amends the Migration Act 1958 to enable the minister to implement a visa pre-application process to enable the random selection of eligible persons who would then be permitted to apply for a relevant visa.
Introduced with the Migration Amendment (Australia’s Engagement in the Pacific and Other Measures) Bill 2023, the bill imposes a charge on a person registering to participate in a visa pre-application process.
Introduced with the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 and National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023, the bill amends: the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018 to rename the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to Housing Australia; the renamed Housing Australia Act 2018 to: streamline the functions of Housing Australia; establish an annual review mechanism for the National Housing Infrastructure Facility; and extend the Commonwealth guarantee of the liabilities of Housing Australia to apply to contracts entered into until 30 June 2028; and 10 Acts to make consequential amendments.
Amends the Social Security Act 1991 to: amend the qualification criteria for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment; and make technical amendments.
Amends the Royal Commissions Act 1902 to enable the authorisation of an Assistant Commissioner to hold private sessions for royal commissions.
Introduced with the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 and Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023, the bill establishes the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council as an independent advisory body to the Commonwealth Government on matters relating to housing supply and affordability.
Introduced with the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023 and Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023, the bill establishes the Housing Australia Future Fund to make grants, and enable Housing Australia to make grants and loans, in relation to acute housing needs, social housing or affordable housing.
Amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 to: remove the requirement for the Australian Medical Association to agree to the appointment of the Director of the Professional Services Review (PSR); amend consultation requirements for appointing other statutory office holders of the PSR to enable consultation with relevant peak bodies directly; establish the statutory office of Associate Director of the PSR; remove the requirement for the Chief Executive Medicare to consult with stakeholder groups prior to issuing a notice to produce documents; and make minor amendments to update the wording of provisions relating to the termination of certain appointments.
Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 to: prohibit schemes designed to avoid the application of a product intervention order relating to a credit facility; remove tertiary education requirements for financial advisers with 10 or more years’ experience and a clean disciplinary record; address certain limitations in the education requirements for new entrants into the financial advice profession and financial advisers who are registered tax agents; make amendments contingent on the commencement of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Law Improvement Package No. 1) Act 2023 and Treasury Laws Amendment (Modernising Business Communications and Other Measures) Act 2023; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and Corporations Act 2001 to enable the Australian Securities and Investment Commission to implement and enforce requirements on a monopoly provider of clearing and settlement (CS) services to achieve competitive outcomes; Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to provide the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with the power to conduct binding arbitration to resolve disputes regarding access to certain CS services; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to: increase the discretion of the Commissioner of Taxation to amend and revoke First Home Super Saver (FHSS) Scheme applications; enable individuals to withdraw or amend their FHSS Scheme applications before receiving a FHSS Scheme amount, and enabling those who withdraw to re-apply for FHSS Scheme releases in the future; enable the Commissioner of Taxation to return any FHSS Scheme amounts to superannuation funds, provided the amount has not yet been released to the individual; and clarify that FHSS Scheme amounts returned to superannuation funds do not count towards individuals’ contribution caps.
Amends the: Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Corporations Act 2001 and 42 other Acts to implement certain recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Financial Services Interim Reports A and B to: ‘unfreeze’ the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 so that the current version applies to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and Corporations Act 2001; create a single glossary of defined terms in the Corporations Act 2001; repeal redundant definitions; address unclear or incorrect provisions; simplify unnecessarily complex provisions; and make consequential and contingent amendments; Insurance Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1991, Insurance Act 1973, Insurance Contracts Act 1984, Life Insurance Act 1995 and Terrorism and Cyclone Insurance Act 2003 to implement findings of the thematic review of insurance instruments due to sunset on 1 October 2023; Corporations Act 2001 and National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 to move certain matters currently in legislative instruments into primary law. Also makes minor and technical amendments to 10 Acts in the Treasury portfolio and repeals the ASIC Corporations (Superannuation and Schemes: Underlying Investments) Instrument 2016/378.
Amends: 33 Acts to replace provisions that require forms to be prescribed by regulations and reflect modern drafting practices, such as providing for the forms to be approved by a specified person or body, by notifiable instrument, or enabling regulations to directly mandate the requirements themselves rather than requiring particular forms; the Family Law Act 1975, Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to update language relating to persons with disability; 11 Acts to update references to Northern Territory legislation; 33 Acts to correct technical errors; and 12 Acts to remove spent and obsolete provisions. Also repeals 4 Acts.
Introduced with the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill gives effect to recommendations of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces by establishing the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service as an independent statutory agency to provide human resources and certain other services for parliamentarians and persons employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984. Also establishes the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Advisory Board and the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Consultative Committee.
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.
Amends: the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to: enhance the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security's (IGIS) oversight functions and powers; prevent the head or deputy head of an agency within the IGIS's jurisdiction, immediately after serving in that position, being appointed as the Inspector General; allow the IGIS to consider employment-related grievances for staff employed under the Office of National Intelligence Act 2018; streamline reporting and information sharing procedures; and make technical amendments to clarify and modernise drafting expressions and remove redundant provisions; 14 Acts to make consequential amendments; and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986, National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 and Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006 to make amendments contingent on the commencement of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022.
Amends the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 in relation to: registration requirements for customised greenhouse and energy minimum standards (GEMS) products; deemed compliance; exemptions from requirements of GEMS determinations; specifying product classes in GEMS determinations; requirements in GEMS determinations which have labelling requirements but do not set minimum standards for energy use; certain arrangements and references to the GEMS Regulator; grandfathering of compliant products; powers of the GEMS Regulator to extend the time to pay application fees; and clarification that one of the objects of the Act is to facilitate the operation of the Intergovernmental Agreement for the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Legislative Scheme.
Introduced with the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Bill 2023, the bill amends the Archives Act 1983, Freedom of Information Act 1982 and Parliamentary Service Determination 2013 to make amendments consequential on the establishment of the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service.
Amends the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 to: implement certain recommendations of the review by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in relation to the Act’s employment framework; and make amendments consequential on the establishment of the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service. Also makes consequential amendments to 18 Acts.
Amends the: Corporations Act 2001 to: enable all documents under the Act to be signed electronically and for certain documents to be sent in either hard copy or electronic form; and provide that companies are not required to send documents to a member where contact details are known to be incorrect; Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Competition and Consumer Act 2010, National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and Tax Agent Services Act 2009 to enable certain regulatory bodies to hold virtual hearings and examinations; Corporations Act 2001, Excise Act 1901 and Small Superannuation Accounts Act 1995 to allow electronic payments to be used; 11 Acts to require notices in newspapers to be published in an accessible and reasonably prominent manner; Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Corporations Act 2001, ASIC Supervisory Cost Recovery Levy Act 2017 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to: remove erroneous references and redundant definitions; apply consistent headings to definitions sections; and make minor technical amendments; Corporations Act 2001, National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 and National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2009 to move five legislative instruments into primary law; and 15 Acts to make minor technical amendments.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort) Bill 2023, Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2023 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2023, the bill establishes a financial accountability regime to impose accountability, key personnel, deferred remuneration and notification obligations on directors and senior executives of financial entities in the banking, insurance and superannuation industries.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort) Bill 2023, Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2023 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2023, the bill amends: 12 Acts to make amendments consequential on the new financial accountability regime; and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998 and Banking Act 1959 to make amendments consequential on the end of the banking executive accountability regime.
Amends the: Customs Act 1901 to establish a framework to facilitate time-limited trials of trade and customs practices and technologies, with approved entities, in a controlled regulatory environment; Australian Border Force Act 2015 to provide that the Comptroller-General of Customs' powers to make rules in relation to controlled trials cannot be delegated; and Customs Act 1901, Customs Regulations 2015 and Customs Tariff Act 1995 to make technical amendments to customs legislation, including to provide that Notices of Intention to Propose Customs Tariff Alterations will not be subject to disallowance under the Legislation Act 2003.
Amends the: Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 to: enable content providers to use accredited classifiers to self-classify film and computer game content; extend the powers of the Classification Board to quality assure industry self-classification decisions, including revocation of those decisions as necessary; enable the Classification Board to publish a list of approved words and phrases to use in consumer advice, along with guidance on their appropriate use; expand classification exemptions to include films in languages other than English distributed through public libraries; broaden the application of conditional cultural exemptions for classifiable content to include routine exhibitions at approved cultural institutions; and enable certain content that has already been classified under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to be deemed as classified for distribution on other platforms, where no substantial changes have been made to the classifiable content; and Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the Export Control Act 2020 to: provide for the use and disclosure of certain information, including protected information; enable the secretary to impose or vary conditions at the same time as approving a variation to an approved arrangement, accredited property, registered establishment or export licence; require fit and proper person assessments to take into consideration certain information received under the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991; and make minor technical amendments.
Amends the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to: clarify the application of civil penalties to ongoing failure to enrol with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) before providing a designated service; allow automated decision-making for certain decisions; and reinstate protections on the use and disclosure of sensitive AUSTRAC information in connection with courts and tribunal proceedings; Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 to relocate a penalty for non compliance with the provision to which it relates; Crimes Act 1914 to: replace references to ‘judicial officer’ with ‘bail authority’; and make minor amendments to rectify incorrect referencing; Criminology Research Act 1971 to provide that the appointment of the Commonwealth representative to the Criminology Research Advisory Council can be made by designation of a position; Foreign Evidence Act 1994 to make technical amendments relating to the use of foreign material in Australian proceedings; International Transfer of Prisoners Act 1997 to: provide that the Attorney-General may refuse consent to a request or application for transfer to or from Australia at an earlier stage in the process; and make minor technical amendments; Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 to expand the existing mandatory ground of refusal regarding torture; Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to expand the matters on which jurisdictional public interest monitors can make submissions; and Witness Protection Act 1994 to: ensure that past participants of Australian Federal Police (AFP) witness protection programs are covered by the Act; enable participants to be temporarily suspended from the National Witness Protection Program where the AFP is unable to provide them with protection or assistance; and make minor and technical amendments. Also amends five Acts to update references to the South Australian Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Amends the Biosecurity Act 2015 to: enable the Director of Biosecurity to require each person who intends to enter, or enters, Australian territory on an incoming aircraft or vessel to provide information and produce a passport or other travel document for the purpose of assessing the level of biosecurity risk associated with the person and any goods that the person has with them; enable the director to scan any passport or travel document so produced and collect and retain personal information; create a civil penalty provision for persons who do not comply with the requirement to produce a passport or travel document; introduce a procedural fairness requirement for the relevant director to give notice of a proposed variation to the biosecurity industry participant covered by an approved arrangement and invite the participant to given a written submission within 14 days in relation to the proposed variation; streamline existing notice requirements in relation to a proposed suspension or revocation of an approved arrangement; introduce an alternative sanction of a reprimand which may be given if the relevant director does not consider it appropriate to vary, suspend or revoke an approved arrangement after receiving the biosecurity industry participant’s written submission; increase civil penalties for certain contraventions or failure to comply with certain requirements; make a technical amendment to clarify the Act’s intent; and insert new strict liability offences.
Introduced with the Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Amendment Bill 2023, the bill amends the Trade Support Loans Act 2014 to: cause the Trade Support Loans Priority List to lapse; enable the minister to determine a new Australian Apprenticeships Priority List; provide that a qualifying apprenticeship is, among other things, an apprenticeship through which a person is undertaking a qualification that leads to an occupation or qualification specified on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List; amend the title of the Act to the Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans Act 2014; and enable the secretary to extend the day by which an application for a particular payment instalment period may be made. Also makes consequential amendments to 5 Acts.
Introduced with the Trade Support Loans Amendment Bill 2023, the bill amends the Student Loans (Overseas Debtors Repayment Levy) Act 2015 to update references to the Trade Support Loans Act 2014 with references to the Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans Act 2014.
Amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 to: remove the age limit on eligibility for Medicare benefits for treatment of cleft and craniofacial conditions; enable Services Australia to use a computerised system to manage the Register of Approved Placements; and require bonded participants of the Bonded Medical Program to complete their return of service obligations in an amount of weeks rather than years and make related amendments.
Amends the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Act 2008 to enable the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority, DonateLife Agencies, grant recipients and authorised family members to publish, disseminate or disclose information about deceased organ or tissue donors or recipients without breaching state or territory legislation.
Amends: the Aboriginal Land Grant (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986 to: amend the title of the Act to the Aboriginal Land and Waters (Jervis Bay Territory) Act 1986; exempt certain leases granted by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council from the application of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (ACT); increase the payment amount at which the council is required to seek approval from the minister before entering into a contract; amend the council's governance structure and decision making powers to align more closely with other corporate Commonwealth entities; remove the requirement for the council to enter into an agreement to lease with the Director of National Parks before land in the Booderee National Park can be declared as Aboriginal land; clarify that the functions of the council relate only to registered members and eligible children; and update the wording of the term 'physical or mental incapacity'; and eight Acts to make consequential amendments.
Amends the Jobs and Skills Australia Act 2022 to: provide for the permanent governance arrangements and functions of Jobs and skills Australia; provide for the minister to establish a Ministerial Advisory Board to advise in relation to the performance of the functions of Jobs and Skills Australia; and provide for a review of the operation of the Act.
Introduced with the Inspector-General of Aged Care (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill establishes an independent Inspector-General of Aged Care to monitor, investigate and report on the Commonwealth’s administration of the aged care system, including by identifying system issues through independent reviews and making recommendations for improvement.
Introduced with the Inspector-General of Aged Care Bill 2023, the bill amends the: Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 to facilitate the disclosure of protected information to the Inspector-General of Aged Care; and National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022 to require the National Anti-Corruption Commissioner to meet an additional public interest test before a corruption investigation can commence in relation to a matter that has previously been investigated by the Inspector-General of Aged Care.
Amends the: Acts Interpretation Act 1901, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to prohibit the conferral of certain powers of the Attorney-General upon another minister; Law Officers Act 1964 to remove the ability of the Attorney-General to delegate certain powers; Criminal Code Act 1995 to provide defences for four offences relating to tampering or interfering with telecommunications carrier facilities, unauthorised modification of data and unauthorised impairment of electronic communications; Intelligence Services Act 2001 to: amend the membership of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security; and provide that the minister may direct the Australian Secret Intelligence Service to undertake activities of a specific or general nature, or by way of a class or classes; Crimes Act 1914 to enable the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to use, record and disclose spent convictions information; Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 and Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 to provide annual reporting requirements in relation to public interest disclosures received by, and complaints made to, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS); Ombudsman Act 1976 to remove six intelligence agencies from the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s jurisdiction; Freedom of Information Act 1982 to remove the exemption for documents relating to the non-intelligence functions of the Australian Hydrographic Office; Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 and Archives Act 1983 to require proceedings in relation to security records under the Archives Act 1983 to be heard in the Security Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT); and Freedom of Information Act 1982 and Archives Act 1983 to provide that the IGIS is obliged to provide evidence in proceedings only where the material in the proceedings relates to agencies the IGIS oversees.
Amends the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 in relation to the communication of foreign intelligence information.
Amends the: Social Security Act 1991 to: expand qualification for parenting payment (single) to single principal carers whose youngest child is aged under 14 years; increase the rates of certain working age and student payments, including jobseeker payment, youth allowance, parenting payment (partnered), austudy payment and disability support pension (youth), by $40 per fortnight; expand eligibility for the higher rate of jobseeker payment to recipients aged 55 years and over who have been on the payment for 9 or more continuous months; and A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999, Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to increase the maximum rates of Commonwealth rent assistance by 15 per cent.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2023, Financial Accountability Regime (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2023 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2023, the bill amends the Corporations Act 2001, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 to establish the financial services compensation scheme of last resort to provide compensation to eligible consumers in circumstances where an Australian Financial Complaints Authority determination awarding monetary compensation has been made in their favour, but which the relevant entity has not paid.
Further to the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Repeal of Cashless Debit Card and Other Measures) Act 2022, the bill amends the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to: expand access to the enhanced income management regime; enable people subject to the existing income management regime to move to the enhanced income management regime, thereby allowing them access to the BasicsCard bank account and superior SmartCard; and direct new entrants to the enhanced income management regime, ensuring no new participant is issued the BasicsCard.
Amends the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Act 2016 to: increase the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility’s (NAIF) appropriation from $5 billion to $7 billion; enable the NAIF to provide financial assistance for the development of economic infrastructure that provides a basis for economic growth or stimulates population growth in the territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands; and provide that the objectives of the Act include the provision of financial assistance for the development of Northern Australia economic infrastructure for the benefit of Indigenous persons.
Amends the: National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 to: support data collection and arrangements in relation to the use and disclosure of vocational education training data; and enable the Ministerial Council to delegate certain powers in relation to data provision requirements; and National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Transitional Provisions) Act 2011 to include transitional provisions.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2023, Financial Accountability Regime (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort) Bill 2023 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2023, the bill imposes levies on certain industry entities to recover the cost of the compensation scheme of last resort.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2023, Financial Accountability Regime (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort) Bill 2023 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2023, the bill provides for the collection and administration of the levies imposed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Act 2023.
Amends the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to enable the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and the Minister for the Environment and Water to perform their respective regulatory functions in relation to Australia’s acquisition and operation of conventionally-armed, nuclear powered submarines and their supporting infrastructure and facilities.
Amends the: Fair Work Act 2009 to: provide that a breach of the Migration Act 1958 does not affect the validity of a contract of employment or contract for services for the purposes of the Act; enable employees to take up to 100 days of flexible unpaid parental leave (UPL); enable employees to commence UPL at any time in the 24 months following the birth or placement of their child; enable employee couples to take UPL at the same time; allow pregnant employees to access flexible UPL in the 6 weeks prior to the expected birth of their child; enable parents to request an extension to their period of UPL regardless of the amount of leave the other parent has taken; insert an entitlement to superannuation in the National Employment Standards; clarify the operation of workplace determinations and enterprise agreements; expand the circumstances in which employees can authorise employers to make valid deduction from payments; and make minor technical amendments; and Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Administration Act 1992 and Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave) Payroll Levy Collection Act 1992 in relation to the accrual, reporting and payment of long service leave entitlements for casual employees working in the black coal mining industry.
Amends the: Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to: provide annual reporting requirements for the Repatriation Medical Authority; and amend certain incorrect references; Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 to: replace references to ‘refuse to deal with the claim’ with ‘defer further investigation of the claim’ to better reflect actual practice; and provide for the alignment of rates of compensation for journey costs relating to treatment with the Comcare Scheme; and Defence Service Homes Act 1918 in relation to the operation of, and conditions to vary, revoke and replace, the Statement of Conditions for the Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme.
Amends the: Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 to reduce the qualifying period of employment of Australian Defence Force firefighters in relation to primary site oesophageal cancer from 25 years to 15 years and change the requirement for firefighting to have been a ‘substantial’ proportion of their duties to be a ‘not insubstantial’ proportion; Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to allow payments and benefits from Commonwealth and State or Territory employment programs to not be considered as income for income support means testing purposes; Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to include a discretionary power to provide Commonwealth rent assistance beyond 26 weeks for eligible recipients who are temporarily absent from Australia and unable to return due to a prescribed event occurring; and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 and Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 to extend eligibility to the Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package to grandparents who are full time carers of the children of a deceased veteran.
Amends the: International Tax Agreements Act 1953 to: give legislative authority to the Convention between Australia and Iceland for the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and the prevention of tax evasion and avoidance; and make minor amendments to update various notes; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to: exempt certain subsidiaries of the Future Fund Board from income tax and include them as entities eligible for a refund of a tax offset relating to a franked distribution; and transfer administration of three register deductible gift recipient categories and the Overseas Aid Gift Deduction Scheme to the Commissioner of Taxation; Customs Act 1901 and Excise Act 1901 to enable an eligible business entity liable for excise duty for excisable goods or customs duty for excise-equivalent goods, being fuel and alcohol, to align their excise returns and customs returns with the return period for other indirect taxes which are separately lodged through a business activity statement; Excise Act 1901 to provide that the repackaging of beer that would otherwise be excise manufacture is not taken to be the manufacture of beer if it meets certain requirements; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the Special Recreational Vessels Act 2019 to extend the sunset date from 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2025 to enable foreign special recreational vessels (also known as superyachts) to continue to opt into the coastal trading regulatory regime and obtain temporary licenses to operate charters in Australia.
Amends the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 to provide that child care subsidy debts for absences before a child’s first attendance or after a child’s last attendance are the responsibility of the approved provider, except for any withholding component paid to an individual in respect of the session of care which remains an individual debt.
Introduced with the Customs Tariff Amendment (Product Stewardship for Oil) Bill 2023, the bill amends the Excise Tariff Act 1921 to increase the rate of excise duty imposed on the manufacture and production of petroleum-based oils and their synthetic equivalents from 8.5 cents to 14.2 cents per litre or kilogram.
Amends the: Higher Education Support Act 2003 to create a new form of Higher Education Loan Program assistance, SY-HELP, which will be available to final year undergraduate students, current post-graduate students and recent graduates in accelerator program courses at Australian universities and university colleges; list Avondale University as a Table B provider; Social Security Act 1991, Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and Student Assistance Act 1973 to provide that students entitled to SY-HELP assistance may qualify for certain social security payments, including youth allowance and austudy payment, while undertaking an accelerator program course; and Australian Research Council Act 2001 to: apply indexation to existing appropriation amounts for the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years; and insert a new funding cap for the 2025-26 financial year.
Introduced with the Excise Tariff Amendment (Product Stewardship for Oil) Bill 2023, the bill amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to: increase the specific rate of customs duty imposed on the import of petroleum based oils and their synthetic equivalents from 8.5 cents to 14.2 cents per litre or kilogram; and make amendments contingent on the commencement of the Customs Tariff Amendment (Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Act 2022.
Amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to: provide for an increase in customs duties for goods that are the produce or manufacture of Russia or Belarus imported into Australian between 25 April 2022 and 24 October 2023; provide for a free rate of customs duty for certain goods that are the produce or manufacture of Ukraine imported between 4 July 2022 and 3 July 2023; permanently extend the free rate of customs duty for certain prescribed medical products and hygiene products; provide for a free rate of customs duty for certain electric and low emission vehicles with a customs value less than the luxury car tax threshold imported into Australia on or after 1 July 2022; and correct tariff references for blood-grouping reagents and herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators following their reclassification.
Amends the: Australian Security Intelligence Organisations Act 1979 to: provide the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) with additional security vetting and security clearance functions, including to make security clearance decisions for ASIO and non-ASIO personnel and conduct security vetting and assessment on an ongoing basis, to communicate with a sponsoring agency in relation to the ongoing suitability of a person to hold a security clearance, to furnish security clearance suitability assessments (SCSAs), and to assume responsibility for a security clearance granted to a person by another security vetting agency; enable ASIO and security clearance sponsors to share certain information; and provide for internal, independent and external merits review of ASIO’s SCSAs and security clearance decisions; Office of National Intelligence Act 2018 to enable the Office of National Intelligence to provide quality assurance, reporting, advice and assistance in relation to the highest-level of security clearances issued by the Commonwealth; Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 to enable security clearance decisions and SCSAs to be reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to update a cross reference.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments.
Amends the: A New Tax System (Medicare Levy Surcharge—Fringe Benefits) Act 1999 and Medicare Levy Act 1986 to: increase the Medicare levy and Medicare levy surcharge low-income threshold amounts for individuals, families and individual taxpayers and families eligible for the seniors and pensioners tax offset; and increase the phase-in limits as a result of the increased threshold amounts; Commonwealth Banks Act 1959 to provide that the existing Commonwealth guarantee for pre-privatisation members of the Commonwealth Bank superannuation fund will continue to apply if the fund merges with another superannuation fund; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to enable eligible primary producers to treat certain carbon abatement income as primary production income for the purposes of the Farm Management Deposit Scheme and accessing income tax averaging arrangements for primary producers; Taxation Administration Act 1953 to reduce the gross domestic product adjustment factor for the 2023-24 financial year to 6 per cent; and National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018 to expand the objects of the Act to include assisting earlier access to the housing market for eligible individuals who have not held an ownership interest in real property in Australia in the preceding 10 years and single legal guardians of children.
Amends the: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to: provide for a 30% refundable tax offset in relation to the development of digital games in Australia; and update the list of deductible gift recipients; A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Regulations 2019 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to clarify that certain digital currencies continue to be excluded from the income tax treatment of foreign currency; Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 to enable the commissioner to determine alternative records which may be kept and retained by employers for fringe benefit tax record keeping purposes; Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to provide for temporary measures allowing certain small businesses to access 20% bonus deductions for eligible expenditure incurred on external training for employees, and expenses and depreciating assets for the purpose of digitising operations; Corporations Act 2001, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 to extend existing reporting and auditing requirements to registerable superannuation entities; Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act 2012 to: amend the definition of 'responsible ministers' and specify that the minister administering the Act is also the nominated minister unless determined otherwise in writing; credit the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) Special Account with $11.5 billion after commencement of the amendments; and enable additional amounts to be credited to the CEFC Special Account through additional appropriations of the Parliament; and Income Tax Assessment (1997 Act) Regulations 2021, Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to: amend the definition of 'superannuation income stream'; provide a non-refundable tax offset for certain members of the Military Superannuation Benefits Scheme and Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme; and specify eligibility criteria and a framework for a veterans’ superannuation (invalidity pension) tax offset.
Amends the: Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 to: enable the Child Support Registrar to use existing employer withholding mechanisms to collect deductible liabilities where a person’s child support liability has ended but they have outstanding child support and related debts; allow the registrar to refuse to issue a departure authorisation certificate where a security is offered unless satisfied that the person will make suitable arrangements to pay their outstanding liabilities; and provide the registrar with an additional method for working out a person’s taxable income for a particular year where they are satisfied that the person is not required to lodge a tax return.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: require all cancellation-related documents to be given in writing and enable the regulations to prescribe methods for giving such documents; ensure that where the minister gives a document to a person and makes an error in doing so, the giving of the document is valid where the person actually receives the document and the document is taken to have complied with the content-related requirements where the minister has substantially complied with those content requirements and the error does not cause substantial prejudice to the person’s rights; and remove the prohibition on non-citizens who are nationals of two or more countries and certain other cohorts from making a valid application for a protection visa.
Introduced with the Creative Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023, the bill establishes Creative Australia by providing for the body corporate previously known as the Australia Council to continue in existence under the name Creative Australia with expanded functions, responsibilities and a new governance structure.
Introduced with the Creative Australia Bill 2023, the bill: repeals the Australia Council Act 2013; and provides for transitional provisions relating to the establishment of Creative Australia.
Amends the: Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 to: provide that 'personal work-related conduct' does not fall within the public interest disclosure (PID) scheme; amend the process for authorised officers' handling and allocation of disclosures, and principal officers' investigation of disclosures; expand the scope of protections for disclosers and availability of civil remedies for reprisal action taken against a person who has made, or may make, a PID; remove the general secrecy offence; clarify the roles of the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security in receiving and investigating complaints about the handling of a disclosure by an agency; establish a procedure for handling disclosures where there is a machinery of government change; amend the definitions of 'agencies', 'public officials' and 'principal officers'; exclude grant recipients from the application of the Act; provide for a review of the Act five years after the commencement of the amendments in the bill; and make minor amendments; and National Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2022, National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2022 and Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 to make amendments contingent on the commencement of the National Anti-Corruption Commission legislation enacted in November 2022.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the Supply Act (No. 2) 2022-2023, Supply Act (No. 4) 2022-2023 and Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2022-2023.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government, in addition to the appropriations provided for by the Supply Act (No. 1) 2022-2023, Supply Act (No. 3) 2022-2023 and Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2022-2023.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments, in addition to appropriations provided for by the Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 2022-2023, Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 2) 2022-2023 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 2022-2023.
Terminates the lease in respect of Block 26, Section 44 in the Division of Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory.
Amends the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 to: require the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) to publish gender pay gap information of relevant employers for each reporting period; rename the current 'minimum standards' as 'gender equality standards'; require relevant employers to provide executive summary and industry benchmark reports to all members of their governing body; include 'sexual harassment', 'harassment on the ground of sex' or 'discrimination' as gender equality indicators; change the title of the 'Director' of the WGEA to 'Chief Executive Officer'; and make a technical amendment to the definition of 'reporting period'.
Amends the: Telecommunications Act 1997 to: enable carriers and carriage service providers to use and disclose information for purposes connected to the prevention of a serious threat to the life or health of a person; authorise the use and disclosure of unlisted numbers and associated addresses for the purposes of dealing with matters raised by a call to an emergency service number; confer civil immunities on telecommunications companies for the provision of reasonably necessary assistance to the Commonwealth, states or territories where a national emergency declaration is in force; and require more detailed records of information to be recorded for authorised disclosures; and Telstra Corporation and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021 and Telecommunications Act 1997 to make minor technical amendments.
Amends the: National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 to create safeguard mechanism credit units (SMCs) and provide for related registration, transfer and compliance arrangements consistent with the treatment of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs); Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to provide that SMCs receive the same tax treatment as other specified units; Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 to: provide ownership and transfer arrangements for SMCs; require the publication of information about holdings and cancellations of SMCs; and provide for the making of legislative rules to increase transparency of information on unit holdings or allow for the voluntary surrender of units; Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011, Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011 and National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 to: provide that protected information includes all information held by the Clean Energy Regulator regardless of when it was obtained; and make consequential amendments; and Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 to: enable legislative rules to prevent the regulator from entering into carbon abatement contracts that reduce covered emissions of facilities covered by the safeguard mechanism; require the regulator to consider the safeguard mechanism when assessing the regulatory additionality of proposed offsets projects; and make a consequential amendment.
Amends the Royal Commissions Act 1902 to apply limitations on the use and disclosure of certain information provided by individuals to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide outside of a private session; and Freedom of Information Act 1982 to exempt this information from the operation of the Act.
Establishes the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation as a corporate Commonwealth entity to invest in projects in priority areas of the Australian economy through the provision of financial accommodation and the acquisition of equity interests.
Amends the National Health Act 1953 to enable the suspension or revocation of an approved pharmacist’s approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits where the approval is held by an approved pharmacist corporation and a director is charged or convicted with a PBS related offence.
Gives effect to certain elements of the Government's National Cultural Policy by amending the: Australia Council Act 2013 to: enable the transfer of the functions of Creative Partnerships Australia Ltd to the Australia Council and provide that it may operate as either the Australia Council or Creative Australia; and clarify the constitutional basis for the Act; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to remove Creative Partnerships as a deductible gift recipient.
Amends the: Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: align postal voting procedures in referendums with equivalent procedures in federal elections; enable the early opening and sorting of pre-poll ordinary votes, and the extraction of declaration votes during preliminary scrutiny; align authorisation requirements with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918; establish a financial disclosure and foreign donation restrictions framework for referendum campaigning; prohibit foreign donations of $100 or more for referendum campaigning, and prohibit foreign campaigners from fundraising or directly incurring referendum expenditure in a financial year equal to or more than $1,000; enable the Electoral Commissioner to make modifications to certain aspects of a referendum during a declared emergency; and make technical amendments; and Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: extend the application of the designated elector framework to referendums; and make consequential amendments.
Amends the: Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to: include negligence as a fault element in relation to a category one offence; clarify that a work group is negotiated with workers who are proposed to form the work group; amend the obligation to train health and safety representatives to provide that representatives are entitled to choose a course of training; amend the process for the issuing and services of notices under the Act; enable an inspector, within 30 days of entering a workplace, to issue certain written notices relating to the reason for entry; specify that Comcare is able to share information with certain other persons for the purpose of performing functions under relevant laws; extend from 12 to 18 months the deadline for a person to make a request to the regulator to bring a prosecution for a category one or two offence; prohibit a person from entering into a contract of insurance to provide coverage over liability for monetary penalties imposed under the Act, and create a related offence; and Safe Work Australia Act 2008 to specify that Safe Work Australia may be provided with information necessary to its data and evidence functions.
Amends the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to: require mandatory reporting of adverse events involving medical devices; provide a marketing approval pathway for biologicals that are for export only; remove merits review rights for a decision by the secretary to require a person to provide information or documents under the Act; enable the secretary to extend the period for a person to pay the amount stated in an infringement notice, and require a person to provide information or documents that are relevant to a contravention of the Act; extend the period for which seized goods can be held; provide that therapeutic goods advertising is excluded from advertising restrictions for certain health professionals or to persons purchasing goods on behalf of governments, registered charities or health facilities; enable the secretary to withdraw approval for the use of a restricted representation in an advertisement about therapeutic goods; enable the secretary to approve the importation or supply of substitute overseas prescription medicine that has been previously approved within Australia; provide that the secretary is not required to observe any requirements of the natural justice hearing rule when releasing therapeutic goods information; provide that sponsors of reportable medicines that are in shortage must provide updated information to the secretary; and make technical amendments.
Introduced with the Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2022 and Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022, the bill amends the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 to: align relevant definitions of medical devices and human tissue products with the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989; rename the Private Health Insurance (Prostheses) Rules (No. 3) 2022 as the Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products) Rules; and enable the minister to establish fee for service cost recovery arrangements. Also makes consequential amendments to the Private Health Insurance (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2007.
Introduced with the Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Medical Device and Human Tissue Product List and Cost Recovery) Bill 2022 and Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022, the bill amends the Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Act 2007 to: amend the long title of the Act; provide for a cost recovery levy on each kind of medical device and human tissue product on the Prescribed List of Benefits for Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products; allow regulations and rules to provide for matters in relation to the levy; and rename the legislative instrument for medical devices and human tissue products that may be made under the Act.
Introduced with the Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Medical Device and Human Tissue Product List and Cost Recovery) Bill 2022 and Private Health Insurance (Prostheses Application and Listing Fees) Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2022, the bill amends the Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Act 2009 to: update references to the renamed Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products) Rules; and amend an incorrect reference to a ministerial determination.
Amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to: allow the minister to make grants to support arrangements to increase industry-led study and postgraduate research, and to assist higher education providers to undertake research that progresses to a state of commercial readiness the development of technologies and services in sectors aligned with areas of national priority (the Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) program); establish a governance framework to support the delivery of the AEA program; and provide for the protection, disclosure and use of AEA program information.
Amends the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010 to: extend paid parental leave (PPL) pay from 18 weeks to 20 weeks from 1 July 2023, with two weeks reserved on a 'use it or lose' basis for each claimant; remove the notion of primary, secondary and tertiary claimants and the requirement that the primary claimants of parental leave pay must be the birth parent; make paid parental leave consist only of flexible PPL days and remove the requirement to not return to work in order to be eligible; introduce a $350,000 family income limit under which families can be assessed if they do not meet the individual income test; and allow an eligible father or partner to receive parental leave pay regardless of whether the birth parent meets the income test, residency requirements or is serving a newly arrived resident's waiting period. Also makes consequential amendments to eight Acts.
Amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 to: amend the definition of 'grandfathered student' to include students undertaking an honours course related to a course of study commenced before 1 January 2021; clarify that a student whose course of study is discontinued by their provider and transfers to a new course will be treated as a grandfathered student; enable the minister to make rules prescribing matters of a transitional nature; and enable the waiver of indexation on HELP debts for certain health practitioners while they are completing eligible work in rural or remote areas.
Amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to update the list of deductible gift recipients.
Responds to the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia in Pearson v Minister for Home Affairs [2022] FCAFC 203 by amending the Migration Act 1958 to provide a clear basis for aggregate sentences (that is, one sentence imposed in respect of more than one offence) to be taken into account in a consistent manner for all relevant purposes under the Act and the Migration Regulations 1994.
Amends the: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to: establish regulation-making powers in relation to dealings between persons who supply or acquire a gas commodity, dealing with and resolving disputes or complaints between persons who supply or acquire a gas commodity, and gas market emergency price orders; enable the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to order the production of certain information and documents, investigate suspected non-compliance and utilise a range of sanctions for non-compliance; provide for civil penalty provisions of gas market instruments; and prohibit schemes designed to avoid the application of a civil penalty provision of a gas market instrument; and Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 to introduce a payment to states and territories to support temporary energy bill relief for households and small businesses.
Amends the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 and Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 to remove the prohibition on legalising euthanasia.
Introduced with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2022 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2022, the bill amends the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 in relation to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Program by: imposing controls that are currently imposed through licence conditions, such as the ban on import of bulk gas in non-refillable containers; clarifying licence and exemptions requirements; increasing the time allowed for submitting reports and payment levies; adopting the standard provisions of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014, including certain minor modifications; updating the offence and civil penalty provisions; introducing information gathering powers including the ability to issue a notice to produce; providing the option of licence suspension as an alternative to immediate cancellation of financial penalties; providing for an internal review mechanism for reviewable decisions; and allowing the use or disclosure of certain information.
Introduced with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Reform (Closing the Hole in the Ozone Layer) Bill 2022 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2022, the bill amends the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995 to: remove the cap on the rate that levies can be set at and provide for the rate of levy to be prescribed by regulations; enable the minister to delegate the power to exempt a person from paying the levy; and make other minor amendments, including to update the drafting style.
Introduced with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Reform (Closing the Hole in the Ozone Layer) Bill 2022 and Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2022, the bill amends the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act 1995 to: remove the cap on the rate that levies can be set at and provide for the rate of levy to be prescribed by regulations; remove the levy on the import of equipment that operates using ozone depleting substances; enable the minister to delegate the power to exempt a person from paying the levy; and make other minor amendments, including to update the drafting style.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to: provide for applications for renewals of an existing community broadcasting licence to be considered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) as a current service and not a proposed new service; enable the ACMA to grant community broadcasting licences and temporary community broadcasting licences with effect from a specified future date; amend the criteria for new temporary community broadcasting licences; enable the ACMA to limit the number of temporary community broadcasting licences that can share a particular frequency; provide for deadlines for late applications for the renewal of a community licence; and provide for expedited timelines for the ACMA to commence a process to allocate new community broadcasting licences.
Amends the: Australian Animal Health Council (Live-stock Industries) Funding Act 1996 to: facilitate the funding of emergency responses under emergency biosecurity response deeds other than the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement, including the proposed Emergency Response Deed for Aquatic Animal Diseases; provide for the Governor-General to make regulations prescribing certain matters; and remove redundant provisions that relate to honey, as honey-related levies are no longer paid to Animal Health Australia; Plant Health Australia (Plant Industries) Funding Act 2002 to: broaden the scope of permissible uses for Emergency Plant Pest Response (EPPR) levies to include the promotion or maintenance of the health of an EPPR plant; provide for the secretary to determine by notifiable instrument a body that is a relevant plant industry member; and remove redundant provisions that provide for the redirection of excess levies to research and development purposes; and Horticulture Marketing and Research and Development Services Act 2000 and Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 to exempt from fringe benefits tax the use, or availability for use, of cars made available by employers to current employees that are zero or low emissions vehicles with a value at first retail sale below the luxury car tax threshold for fuel efficient vehicles.
Amends the: Taxation Administration Act 1953 to: require electronic platform operators to provide information on transactions to the Australian Taxation Office; enable small business entities to apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for an order staying, or otherwise affecting, the operation or implementation of decisions of the Commissioner of Taxation being reviewed by the AAT; and enable the commissioner to direct an entity to complete an approved recordkeeping course as an alternative to financial penalties where they reasonably believe the entity has failed to comply with its tax-related recordkeeping obligations; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to make consequential amendments; Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986, Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to remove the $250 non-deductible threshold for work-related self-education expenses; and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to enable individuals aged 55 and above to make downsizer contributions to their superannuation plan from the proceeds of selling their main residence.
Amends the: Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005 to enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority to disclose information to a non-corporate Commonwealth entity that is responsible for enforcing one or more laws of the Commonwealth; Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 to allow the Australian information Commissioner to delegate certain functions or powers; and Privacy Act 1988 to: expand the Australian Information Commissioner's enforcement and information sharing powers; and increase penalties for serious or repeated interferences with privacy.
Introduced with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022, the bill establishes the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate and report on serious or systemic corruption in the Commonwealth public sector, refer evidence of criminal corrupt conduct for prosecution and undertake education and prevention activities regarding corruption. Also provides for oversight of the commission by establishing a Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission and an independent Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Introduced with the National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022, the bill amends: 25 Acts to make consequential amendments, including to confer powers on the National Anti-Corruption Commissioner that are currently conferred on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity's Integrity Commissioner; and the Telecommunications Act 1997 to confer industry assistance powers on the National Anti-Corruption Commissioner. Also repeals the Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006 and includes transitional provisions.
Establishes the High Speed Rail Authority as a statutory agency to advise on, plan and, with the consent of states and territories, construct a high speed rail system within Australia.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2022, Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2022 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2022, the bill amends: 12 Acts to make amendments consequential on the new financial accountability regime; the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Act 1998 and Banking Act 1959 to make amendments consequential on the end of the banking executive accountability regime; the Corporations Act 2001, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 to establish the financial services compensation scheme of last resort to provide compensation to eligible consumers where the Australian Financial Complaints Authority has made a determination in their favour that remains unpaid; the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 to impose additional obligations on providers of small amount credit contracts and consumer leases; and the National Consumer Credit Protection (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2009 to include application provisions.
Amends the Crimes Act 1914 to increase the amount of the Commonwealth penalty unit from $222 to $275.
Implements recommendations of the Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces by amending: the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to: prohibit conduct that subjects another person to a workplace environment that is hostile on the ground of sex; introduce a positive duty on employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate unlawful sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, as far as possible; state that an object of the Act is to achieve substantive equality between men and women; and amend the definition of harassment on the ground of sex to remove the reference to conduct of a 'seriously' demeaning nature; the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 to: enable the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to monitor and assess compliance with the positive duty; provide the AHRC with a function to inquire into systemic unlawful discrimination; enable a representative body to progress a complaint on behalf of one or more affected persons from conciliation at the AHRC to application to the court; insert a cost protection provision; and amend one of the discretionary grounds on which a complaint may be terminated by the President of the AHRC; the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 to require Commonwealth public sector organisations to report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency on their gender equality indicators; five Acts to clarify that victimising conduct can form the basis of a civil action for unlawful discrimination in addition to a criminal complaint; and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021, Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 and Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the: Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 to: amend the drafting process and relevant definitions for determinations made by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) board to authorise special ACIC operations and special ACIC investigations; and Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Act 2010 and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to make consequential amendments.
Amends the: Fair Work Act 2009 and Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to abolish the Registered Organisations Commission and provide for transitional arrangements; Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to apply certain provisions of the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014; Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 to: abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission and provide for transitional arrangements; repeal the Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016; and rename the Act to the Federal Safety Commissioner Act 2022; Fair Work Act 2009 to: amend the objects of the Act to include the promotion of job security and gender equity; guide the Fair Work Commission (FWC) in its consideration of equal remuneration and work value cases; establish a Pay Equity Expert Panel and a Care Community Sector Expert Panel to determine equal remuneration cases and certain award cases; prohibit pay secrecy; prohibit sexual harassment in connection with work; add the protected attributes of breastfeeding, gender identity and intersex status to the existing anti-discrimination provisions; limit the use of fixed term contracts; expand the circumstances in which an employee may request flexible work arrangements and empower the FWC to resolve disputes regarding flexible work arrangements; amend the requirements for approval of an enterprise agreement; simplify the process for initiating bargaining in certain circumstances; amend the Better Off Overall Test; enable the FWC to vary enterprise agreements to correct errors, defects or irregularities; provide for a new intractable bargaining declaration scheme; amend certain processes relating to industrial action and Protected Action Ballots; remove limitations on access to the low-paid bargaining stream and the single-interest employer authorisation stream; amend provisions relating to making multi-enterprise agreements (to be known as cooperative workplace agreements); amend small claims procedures to enable unpaid entitlement recovery; and prohibit national system employers from advertising employment at a rate of pay that would contravene the Act; Fair Work Act 2009 and Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 to provide that the FWC can only terminate an agreement that has nominally expired on the unilateral application of a party in limited circumstances; Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 to provide for the sunsetting of all remaining transitional instruments; and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 to update the worker's compensation presumptive liability provisions for firefighters. Also makes consequential amendments to four Acts and repeals the Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2016 and Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2005.
Introduced with the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2022 and Income Tax Amendment (Labour Mobility Program) Bill 2022, the bill amends the: Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 to double the maximum financial penalties for contraventions of provisions that relate only to residential land; National Emergency Declaration Act 2020 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to enable the disclosure of protected information to Australian government agencies for the purpose of administering major disaster support programs approved by the minister; Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus (Measures No. 2) Act 2020 to extend the temporary mechanism which enables ministers to make alternative arrangements for meeting information and documentary requirements; Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and three other taxation Acts to reduce the tax on certain income earned by foreign resident workers participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme from 32.5 per cent to 15 per cent; and Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 to provide for a supplementary annual performance test for faith-based products.
Implements Australia's obligations under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships by amending the: Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 to: introduce controls for discharges of residues of noxious liquid substances known as 'persistent floaters' in northern European waters; and ban the use of heavy fuel oil by ships in Arctic waters; Protection of the Sea (Harmful Anti-fouling Systems) Act 2006 to extend controls on ship harmful anti-fouling systems to include the chemical biocide, cybutryne; and Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 and Protection of the Sea (Harmful Anti-fouling Systems) Act 2006 to make minor technical and consequential amendments.
Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 3) Bill 2022 and Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2022, the bill amends the Income Tax (Seasonal Labour Mobility Program Withholding Tax) Act 2012 to change the title of the Act to the Income Tax (Labour Mobility Program Withholding Tax) Act 2012 to reflect the reduction in the tax on certain income earned by foreign resident workers participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme from 32.5 per cent to 15 per cent.
Amends the: Health Insurance Act 1973 to: broaden the remit of the Professional Services Review (PSR) to make agreements with any person under review who acknowledges inappropriate practice (including bodies corporate); and introduce new sanctions for persons who fail to respond to a notice to produce documents to the Director of the PSR or to a PSR Committee, or fail to appear at hearings; Health Insurance Act 1973, National Health Act 1953 and Dental Benefits Act 2008 to provide for: the recovery of interest payable on certain debts; the application of administrative penalties to Shared Debt Recovery Scheme debts; the use of financial information gathering powers in debt recovery; Administrative Appeal Tribunal reviews where one or more garnishee notices are issued in relation to certain debts; and clarification of the Commonwealth's ability to recover debts from a person or the estate of a person.
Introduced with the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 3) Bill 2022 and Income Tax Amendment (Labour Mobility Program) Bill 2022, the bill amends the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Act 2015 to update the fee cap amount to incorporate indexation and the dates referred to in the indexation provisions.
Amends the Biosecurity Act 2015 to: enable the minister to determine certain biosecurity measures and requirements for individuals or classes of individuals who are entering Australian territory for the purposes of preventing a disease or pest that is considered to pose an unacceptable biosecurity threat, and establish civil penalty provisions for noncompliance; expand pre-arrival reporting requirements for aircraft and vessels; strengthen penalties for non-compliance with negative pratique requirements; provide for the use and disclosure of certain information, including protected information; increase civil and criminal penalties for contraventions of certain requirements in relation to goods and conveyances; amend the process for making certain determinations specifying prohibited, conditionally non-prohibited and suspended goods or granting permits based on risk assessments; provide legislative authority for expenditure for biosecurity-related programs and activities and provide for additional annual reporting; and amend provisions relating to approved arrangements, administration, auditing and consideration of compensation claims.
Amends the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to provide a one-off increase to the pension payable to totally and permanently incapacitated veterans (known as the TPI payment).
Following the commencement of the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021, the bill amends the: Customs Act 1901 to: treat offshore electricity installations within the Commonwealth offshore area as Australian territory; require the approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs to attach overseas offshore electricity installations in the Commonwealth offshore area, and to use offshore electricity installations attached in the Commonwealth offshore area where they are subject to customs control; extend forfeiture provisions for unlawfully attaching overseas offshore electricity installations; clarify the times at which offshore electricity installations, and the goods on these installations, can be imported to, and exported from, Australia; require Australian Border Force (ABF) approval for ships or aircraft to arrive at offshore electricity installations; prohibit direct journeys between external places and offshore electricity installations and transfers between ships or aircraft in close proximity to offshore electricity installations; enable ABF officers to board and search offshore electricity installations, as well as question and search persons on an installation in certain circumstances; require the owner of an offshore electricity installation to facilitate boarding by authorised persons; and prohibit the removal of customs seals or similar marks placed by customs officials on offshore electricity installations; and Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 to make minor administrative amendments.
Amends the Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Act 2016 to: provide that regulations may prescribe matters that will be the subject of multiple separate charges, which may be incurred by a licence holder during a particular charging period; and enable the regulations to specify an amount of a charge or a method for working out a charge.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments.
Amends the Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to: extend from 12 to 24 months the assets test exemption on principal home sale proceeds intended for the purchase of a new principal home, for pensioners and other eligible support recipients; and assess the deemed income on proceeds from the sale of the principal home at the below threshold deeming rate during the period of exemption from the assets test.
Amends the: A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 to: provide families earning up to $80,000 a child care subsidy (CCS) rate of 90 per cent, and families earning over $80,000 a CCS rate that tapers down by one percentage point for each additional $5,000 of family income until it reaches zero per cent for families earning $350,000; and provide additional discretion to allow payment of CCS for absences in exceptional circumstances; A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 to: expand existing financial reporting requirements to all types of approved child care providers; enable the publication of certain information received from large child care providers online; require child care providers to collect gap fees via electronic funds transfer; make good governance an eligibility requirement for provider approval; enable the secretary to specify the information an attendance report by a provider must contain; clarify the interactions with CCS where providers waive gap fees for families in prescribed events or circumstances; and extend the period for passing on fee reduction amounts to families in limited circumstances; Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Subsidy) Act 2021 to remove the existing higher CCS for families with multiple children (due to commence from July 2023); A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 and A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999 to: provide for a base level of 36 subsidised hours of child care per fortnight for First Nations children, regardless of activity levels; permit child care providers to offer a discount on child care fees to staff engaged as educators, without this affecting the amount of CCS payable for the educator; and make technical amendments.
Amends: the Emergency Response Fund Act 2019 to: rename the Emergency Response Fund as the Disaster Ready Fund; change the title of the Act to the Disaster Ready Fund Act 2019; enable up to $200 million per financial year to be debited from the Disaster Ready Fund for natural disaster resilience and risk reduction; enable the minister to adjust the maximum disbursement amount by legislative instrument; transfer responsibility for fund expenditure to the National Emergency Management Agency; amend certain administrative arrangements in relation to transfers from the fund; and six Acts to make consequential amendments. Also enables the responsible ministers to make specified consequential amendments to the Emergency Response Fund Investment Mandate Direction 2020 by legislative instrument.
Amends the: Higher Education Support Act 2003 to: amend the student identifier requirements for a person's eligibility to receive Commonwealth assistance; provide that units of study undertaken as part of an enabling course will not count towards a student's student learning entitlement; provide that domestic students undertaking a microcredential course are eligible for FEE-HELP; extend the FEE-HELP loan fee exemption to 31 December 2022; provide that New Zealand citizens are eligible for HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP only if they are a resident in Australia for the duration of the unit; remove the 10 per cent discount on up-front payments made by HECS-HELP students; and Higher Education Support Act 2003 and Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 to make technical amendments.
Amends the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme Act 2008 to: remove the post-separation timeframe for accessing the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme; reduce the qualifying service periods for initial access to the scheme and the minimum service periods for each subsidy tier; provide for subsidised borrowers to continue to access the scheme in circumstances where a genuine error, mistake or accident has occurred that would otherwise amount to a subsidy ceasing event; and provide a power to make and recover payments, including overpayments, which may occur in the administration of the scheme.
Amends the Atomic Energy Act 1953 to enable the minister to: grant a new rehabilitation authority to the mine operator of the Ranger Uranium Mine for the purpose of authorising rehabilitation, remediation and monitoring operations; vary the existing authority, including to extend the period in which it is in force for the purposes of the rehabilitation of the site; and declare that the relevant authority is no longer in force for areas of the site where rehabilitation requirements have been satisfied.
Amends the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 to give legislative authority to the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement to exclude from tax within Australia payments and credits made to Indian residents by Australian customers for technical services provided remotely that are covered by the Agreement.
Amends the: Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to enable age pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients to have their payment suspended for up to two years, instead of cancelled, if their income, which includes some income from the recipient's own employment, precludes payment; and provide for the same suspension period for partners of the age pension, disability support pension and certain veterans' entitlements recipients, where the partner is receiving a social security pension or certain veterans' entitlements; Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to make minor amendments to the existing suspension provisions for disability support pensioners; and Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to: provide that working age pensioners, disability support pensioners and certain veterans' entitlement recipients, and their pensioner partners, can retain their pensioner concession card for up to two years after their payment ceases; and provide a temporary increase of $4,000 to eligible age pensioners and veterans’ existing and initial unused concession balance until 30 June 2023, enabling eligible recipients to earn up to another $4,000 before the income test is applied and their payments affected.
Introduced with the Customs Amendment (India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2022 to implement Australia's obligations under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, the bill amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to: provide a free rate of customs duty for certain Indian originating goods; specify phasing rates of customs duty for certain Indian originating goods that will incrementally reduce to free; maintain rates of customs duty on certain alcohol, tobacco and petroleum products; and maintain custom duty rates for certain Indian originating goods.
Introduced with the Customs Amendment (Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2022 to implement Australia's obligations under the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the bill amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to: provide a free rate of customs duty for goods that are United Kingdom (UK) originating goods; specify phasing rates of customs duty for certain UK originating goods that will incrementally reduce to free; maintain rates of customs duty on certain alcohol, tobacco and petroleum products; provide a safeguard that would restore the customs duty rate to the rate applied before the commencement of the agreement for certain products; and maintain custom duty rates for certain UK originating goods.
Introduced with the Customs Tariff Amendment (India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2022 to implement Australia's obligations under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, the bill amends the Customs Act 1901 to: introduce rules of origin to determine if goods entering Australia from India are 'Indian originating goods'; enable regulations to prescribe certain record keeping obligations on exporters and producers that export goods to India; and enable an authorised officer to disclose certain information.
Introduced with the Customs Tariff Amendment (Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Implementation) Bill 2022, to implement Australia's obligations under the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the bill amends the Customs Act 1901 to: implement rules of origin to determine goods eligible for preferential tariff treatment in accordance with the agreement; enable regulations to prescribe certain record keeping obligations on exporters that export goods to the United Kingdom and who make a claim that goods exported are originating goods in accordance with the agreement, and producers of such goods; and enable an authorised officer to disclose certain information.
Amends the: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to increase the maximum penalty applicable for anti-competitive behaviour and certain breaches of competition consumer law; and Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 to: establish a civil penalty regime prohibiting the use of, and reliance on, unfair contract terms in standard form contracts; and expand the class of contracts that are covered by the unfair contract terms.
Amends the National Health Act 1953 to: reduce the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) general patient charge from $42.50 to $30 (indexed annually); and enable approved pharmacists and medical practitioners to apply an optional discount to certain PBS medicines with a Commonwealth price between the new co-payment of $30 and the current co-payment of $42.50.
Introduced with the Jobs and Skills Australia (National Skills Commissioner Repeal) Bill 2022, the bill establishes Jobs and Skills Australia, as a statutory body within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, to provide advice and collect, analyse, share and publish data and other information on Australia's current and emerging labour market and its current, emerging and future skills and training needs and priorities (including in relation to apprenticeships), and the adequacy of the Australian system for providing vocational education and training (including training outcomes).
Introduced with the Jobs and Skills Australia Bill 2022, the bill repeals the National Skills Commissioner Act 2020.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to replace the current entitlement in the National Employment Standards to five days of unpaid family and domestic violence leave in a 12-month period with an entitlement to ten days of paid leave for full-time, part-time and casual employees; extend the definition of family and domestic violence to include conduct of a current or former intimate partner of an employee, or a member of an employee's household; and extend the entitlement to paid family and domestic violence leave to non-national system employees once the International Labour Organization Convention on Violence and Harassment (No. 190) comes into force for Australia.
Amends the Crimes Act 1914 and Criminal Code Act 1995 to extend the sunset dates for certain Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism powers from 7 December 2022 to 7 December 2023.
Amends the: Age Discrimination Act 2004, Australian Human Right Commission Act 1986, Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to: establish a merit based and publicly advertised appointment process for members of the Australian Human Rights Commission (including the President); and provide that the total term of appointment, including any reappointments, for members of the commission must not exceed seven years.
Amends the Aged Care Act 1997 to: require approved providers of residential care and certain kinds of flexible care to ensure a registered nurse is onsite and on duty at all times at each residential facility operated by them; enable the capping of prices that approved providers of home care can charge care recipients and remove the home care providers' ability to charge exit amounts; and require the secretary to publish information in relation to aged care services.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure.
Appropriates additional money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the ordinary annual services of the government.
Appropriates money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments.
Amends the Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to increase the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card income test limits to $90 000 a year for a single person and $144 000 a year for couples.
Amends the: Family Law Regulations 1984, Social Security Act 1991 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to clarify that the Acts operate in the same way in relation to payments under the Self-Employment Assistance program as payments under the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme; and Social Security Act 1991 and Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to make minor technical amendments.
Amends the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 to: enable veterans engaged in an approved rehabilitation program and undertaking full-time study to continue to receive incapacity payments at 100 per cent of their normal weekly earnings for an additional year, to 1 July 2023; and enable back-payments for student veterans who should have been eligible for the higher rate of payment to cover the period from 1 July 2022 until the Act's commencement.
Amends the: Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 and Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 to: extend eligibility to veterans and their family members who are at risk of or in crisis, whether or not the veteran is participating in a rehabilitation program or has rendered warlike service; and expand the range of supports available to family members under the current family support package; Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to provide that acute support packages for veterans and their families are exempt from income tax; and Social Security Act 1991 to provide that acute support packages for veterans and their families are not income for the purposes of the social security income test.
Amends the: Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to abolish the cashless welfare arrangements (also known as the cashless debit card or CDC program) and provide for certain exiting program participants to enter alternative income management arrangements, including on a voluntary basis; and A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999, National Emergency Declaration Act 2020, Social Security Act 1991 and Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to make consequential amendments.
Introduced with the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022, the bill: outlines Australia's greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of a 43% reduction from 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050; requires the minister to prepare and table an annual climate change statement; requires the Climate Change Authority to give the minister advice in relation to the annual statement and future greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; and provides for periodic reviews of the operation of the Act.
Introduced with the Climate Change Bill 2022, the bill makes consequential amendments to 14 Acts to incorporate Australia's greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement into legislation for relevant Commonwealth entities and schemes.
Amends the: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to provide an income tax exemption for certain recovery grants made to small businesses and primary producers impacted by Cyclone Seroja in April 2021; Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Consumers First—Establishment of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority) Act 2018 to facilitate the closure and transitional arrangements associated with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) replacing the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT); Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 to provide income tax and withholding tax exemptions for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and its wholly owned subsidiary established for the purpose of delivering the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Also makes minor and technical amendments to 12 Acts.
Amends the Superannuation (Salary) Regulations (now renamed to the Superannuation (CSS) Salary Regulations 1978), with effect from 1 July 1986, to provide that individuals who were provided with rent-free housing on and after 1 July 1986 will not have the value of that housing included in their default superannuation salary. Also provides for an exemption to cover certain individuals.
Amends: the Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 to enable the introduction of the Australian National Aged Care Classification to replace the Aged Care Funding Instrument as the residential aged care subsidy calculation model from 1 October 2022; the Aged Care Act 1997 to: require the secretary to publish information in the form of a star rating system in relation to the quality of aged care provided by residential aged care services and the performance of approved providers of those services in relation to responsibilities and standards; allow the Quality of Care Principles to make provision for the giving of informed consent to the use of restrictive practices in circumstances where a care recipient does not have capacity to consent themselves; and provide immunity from civil or criminal liability in relation to the use of a restrictive practice in certain circumstances; the Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 to: require compliance with a code of conduct by approved providers and their aged care workers and governing persons; extend the Serious Incident Response Scheme to home and flexible care delivered in a home or community care setting from 1 December 2022; introduce new governance and reporting responsibilities for approved providers of Commonwealth-funded aged care; enable the secretary or commissioner to request information or documents from a provider or borrower relating to the use of a loan made with a refundable deposit or accommodation bond and create an offence for a borrower who does not comply with this request; and extend the period of liability for the existing offences for the misuse of refundable accommodation deposits prior to an insolvency event for both providers and key personnel of providers; five Acts to enable information sharing between certain Commonwealth bodies; the National Health Reform Act 2011 and Aged Care Act 1997 to expand the functions of a renamed Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority and establish new governance arrangements and appointments processes; and the National Health Reform Act 2011, Aged Care Act 1997 and Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 to enable the use and disclosure of information required for the authority to perform its new functions.
Amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to prohibit a corporation with substantial market power from engaging in conduct that results in, or is likely to result in, an excessive price being charged for a good or service.
Amends the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to remove references to ‘gender identity’.
The bill: repeals the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002; and amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: make consequential amendments; and provide for annual statements from the minister and the Threatened Species Commissioner on the impact of native forest logging.
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to cancel Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP11) and prohibit any further petroleum exploration in the PEP11 area.
Amends: the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 to provide a resource management framework for the use and management of public resources, including for grants administration; the Public Service Act 1999 to provide the Public Service Commissioner with certain powers in relation to breaches of the code of conduct relating to the resource management framework; and 9 Acts in relation to oversight of investment mandates.
Establishes a commission of inquiry into Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prohibits the purchase of residential property by foreign entities for a 2-year period.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to provide that the offence of using a carriage service to incite committing or attempting to commit suicide does not apply to acts or omissions carried out in accordance with a voluntary assisted dying law of a state or territory.
Prohibits discrimination based on a person's COVID-19 vaccination status by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, statutory authorities, local governments, and private enterprises.
Amends the Online Safety Act 2021 to require the minister to conduct a trial of age verification technologies.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: prohibit the detention of minors; and introduce a 90-day limit on immigration detention which can only be extended in certain circumstances.
Amends the Defence Act 1903 to establish the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence to have general oversight of Australian defence agencies, other than the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation, the Australian Signals Directorate and the Defence Intelligence Organisation.
Establishes a scheme in relation to dealings between lobbyists and Government representatives.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to prohibit misleading or deceptive electoral or referendum matter.
Amends the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to enable the Court, following an application by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, to give directions for the purpose of securing a reduction in a corporation’s power in, or share of, the market.
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to expand the circumstances in which certain petroleum mining developments must be assessed and approved by the minister.
The bill: imposes a curfew and certain related restrictions on aircraft movements at Brisbane Airport; provides for the development of a long term operating plan for managing aircraft movements and airspace at Brisbane Airport; and provides for consultation procedures in certain circumstances. Also makes consequential amendments to the Airports Act 1996 and National Emergency Declaration Act 2020.
Amends the: National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Act 2018 to enable the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to provide finance, grants or investments that support the provision of housing-enabling infrastructure, including for housing in regional, rural or remote Australia; and Housing Australia Act 2018 to make contingent amendments.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: require political parties, state branches of political parties, significant third parties and candidates to provide a notice to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) of political donations received over the disclosure threshold amount of $13,800 within five business days of receiving the donation; and require annual returns to be provided to the AEC where political donations made by a single person exceeds the annual disclosure threshold amount.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: lower the political donation disclosure threshold from $16,300 to $1,000 and remove the indexation of the disclosure threshold; and expand the definition of ‘gift’ to include electoral expenditure and gift-in-kind to a political entity where the value is over $1,000 and include amounts paid to attend political fundraisers or functions.
Establishes a legislative framework for a national plebiscite to be held in conjunction with the next general election that would ask Australians “Do you think the current rate of immigration to Australia is too high?”.
Amends the: Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 in relation to: the disclosure threshold; disclosure and publication of donations; misleading or deceptive electoral or referendum matter; definition of gift; prohibited donors; government advertising; postal vote applications; independent campaign entities; and nomination of candidates; Privacy Act 1988 to remove exemptions relating to data protection that apply to political parties and members of Parliament; Spam Act 2003 to remove exemptions relating to unsolicited electronic messages that apply to political parties; and Do Not Call Register Act 2006 to provide that independent candidates are treated the same as registered political parties under the provisions of the Act.
Amends the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to ban the broadcast, datacast and publication of licensed interactive wagering services.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to prohibit the broadcasting of marketing relating to certain food or drink products on television and radio broadcasting services, and online services.
The bill: establishes a framework for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the Commonwealth Government; and makes a consequential amendment to the Productivity Commission Act 1998.
Amends the Criminal Code Act 1995 to prohibit a person from knowingly, and without reasonable excuse, displaying a Nazi symbol.
Amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to: prohibit the broadcasting of gambling advertisements on certain television and radio broadcasting services; and prohibit the provision of gambling advertisements on certain online content services.
Amends the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 to: include home batteries as an eligible technology to create small-scale technology certificates under the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme; and provide for an independent review of the operation of the scheme.
Amends the Online Safety Act 2021 to: define ‘criminal activity material’ as material that is hosted on a social media service, a relevant electronic service, or a designated internet service, and depicts conduct that could be deemed to be a criminal offence; and expand the functions of the eSafety Commissioner to include administering a complaints system for criminal activity material.
Amends the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 to: prohibit the use of credit cards for online gambling using regulated interactive gambling services; and require customers of licensed interactive wagering services to provide an acknowledgement of losses before being allowed to participate in licensed wagering services.
Declares Australia Day as the national day of Australia to be observed on 26 January every year.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to provide workplace protections against discrimination for employees who have been, or continue to be, subjected to family and domestic violence.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to provide an exception to the operation of the small business redundancy exemption when a larger business downsizes to become a smaller business employer due to insolvency.
Amends the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 to implement presumptive liability provisions for first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Amends the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 to expand the functions of the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency in relation to silica safety and silica-related diseases.
Provides that the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Act 2022 (ACT) has no force or effect as a law of the Australian Capital Territory.
Amends the Fair Work Act 2009 to: prevent employers from contacting employees outside of work hours; and provide that employees are not required to monitor, read or respond to work communications from their employer outside of work hours.
Amends the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 to require the Australian Capital Territory Government to conduct an inquiry into the Health Infrastructure Enabling Act 2023 (ACT) and report by 30 June 2024.
The bill: establishes a framework for making transparent and quality public appointments, including the establishment of Independent Selection Panels and the Office of the Public Appointments Commissioner to issue guidelines on the making of public appointments and report annually on public appointment selection processes; and establishes the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Appointments.
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to cancel Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP11) and prohibit any further petroleum exploration in the PEP11.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: amend the character test by providing grounds to consider visa cancellation or refusal where a non-citizen has been convicted of offences involving violence against a person, weapons, breaching of an apprehended violence order (or similar) or non-consensual sexual acts; provide that, for an offence involving violence against a person, a person's conviction for an offence of common assault, or equivalent, will not be taken to be a conviction for a designated offence unless the act constituting the offence causes or substantially contributes to bodily harm to another person, or harm to another person's mental health, or involves family violence; and make consequential amendments.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: lower the donation disclosure threshold from $13,800 to $1,000 for individual donations and require aggregation under the threshold; expand the definition of 'gift'; introduce a cap of $50,000 on the total amount of donations a donor can provide during an electoral cycle; require real-time disclosure by gift recipients to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) within two business days of the donation threshold being reached or exceeded; require the AEC to publish donation returns by reporting entities on the Transparency Register as soon as reasonably practicable; introduce an electoral expenditure cap to limit the amount of money that can be spent on federal election campaigns; prohibit political donations from particular industries, including fossil fuel entities, gambling companies, liquor companies and the tobacco industry; and increase certain penalties for corporations.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: lower the minimum voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.
Amends the Productivity Commission Act 1998 to: require the Productivity Commission to prepare quarterly reports on retail electricity prices and energy sources for electricity generation; and require the minister to table these reports within 30 days after the end of the quarterly period.
Amends the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 to require light vehicles to meet Euro 6d vehicle pollution standards.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to: prohibit misleading or deceptive electoral or referendum matter; prohibit persons or bodies corporate from deceptively impersonating, or falsely attributing material to, a person, candidate, campaigner, political party or entity; and give the Australian Electoral Commissioner the power to investigate possible breaches, order retractions, publish corrections, and pursue complaints through the courts.
Amends the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 to: require the Classification Board to classify computer games which contain 'loot boxes' as either R 18+ or RC; and require a warning to displayed when games contain loot boxes or similar features.
The bill: repeals the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002; and amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: make consequential amendments; and provide for annual statements from the minister and the Threatened Species Commissioner on the impact of native forest logging.
Amends the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 in relation to references to a person or member of the Aboriginal race of Australia or a descendant of an indigenous habitant of Australia or the Torres Strait Islands.
Amends the Defence Act 1903 to require parliamentary approval of overseas service by members of the Australian Defence Force.
Amends the: Criminal Code Act 1995 to: amend the geographical jurisdiction provision for computer offences; introduce standalone offences for extortive conduct associated with ransomware and dealing with data obtained by unauthorised access or modification; introduce aggravated offences relating to cyber attacks on critical infrastructure assets and producing, supplying or obtaining data under arrangement for payment; and increase maximum penalties for certain other computer offences; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to ensure that existing information gathering powers and freezing orders in relation to financial institutions can also be exercised in relation to digital currency exchanges; and Crime Act 1914 and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to ensure that law enforcement agencies can seize digital assets (including cryptocurrency) discovered during the execution of a warrant and suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to: require actions that would emit between 25,000 to 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions in any one year to be assessed for approval under Part 9 of the Act; require the minister, when approving any such action or when considering whether to enter into a conservation agreement, to consider Australia’s national carbon budget and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; require the minister to reject the approval of actions that would emit over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent scope 1 emissions; require the Climate Change Authority to develop a national carbon budget to 2050 and to annually assess the budget; prohibit the minister, subject to certain exceptions, from using alternative approval processes for certain emissions intensive actions; and introduce penalties for undertaking certain emissions intensive actions without approval if the action has, will have or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment.
Amends the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to: require gambling companies to report to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre if they have reason to suspect a person is paying for gambling services with money obtained illegally; and enable the Federal Court to make compensation orders where gambling companies have provided gambling services to a person who they suspect has paid for the gambling service using money obtained illegally.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2022, Financial Sector Reform Bill 2022 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2022, the bill imposes a levy on certain industry entities to recover the cost of the compensation scheme of last resort.
Introduced with the Financial Accountability Regime Bill 2022, Financial Sector Reform Bill 2022 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2022, the bill provides for the collection and administration of the levy imposed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Act 2022.
Introduced with the Financial Sector Reform Bill 2022, Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy Bill 2022 and Financial Services Compensation Scheme of Last Resort Levy (Collection) Bill 2022, the bill establishes a financial accountability regime to impose accountability, key personnel, deferred remuneration and notification obligations on directors and senior executives of financial entities in the banking, insurance and superannuation industries.
Amends the Migration Act 1958 to: require the minister to provide an offer of transfer to Australia to all persons in the offshore cohort in Papua New Guinea or the Republic of Nauru who have not had an adverse security assessment made against them by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation; and provide that transferred persons will be placed in community detention while they pursue a durable solution, being resettlement in a third country which is a state party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Refugee Protocol.
The bill: establishes a legal framework governing immigration detention in Australia; provides alternatives to immigration detention; and prioritises non-citizens' immediate needs and refugee and international human rights law.
Amends the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984 to: lower the minimum (non-compulsory) voting age in Australian federal elections and referenda from 18 to 16 years; allow 14 and 15 year olds to be added to the electoral roll in preparation for their eligibility to vote at 16 years of age; provide for 16 and 17 year olds to be included in the certified list of voters (but not to be given a penalty notice if they do not vote); and provide that an eligible voter, who is not yet on the electoral roll or enrolled at their correct address, is able to cast a provisional vote on election day.
Amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to broaden the objects clause of the Act to require the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator and the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority to take into account the benefit to the Australian community when granting new leases or renewing existing leases.