News from our Parliament
Keep up-to-date with the latest news from our Parliament. Read straightforward explanations of bills, committee inquiries, and events in the Senate and House of Representatives, and around Parliament House.
19
September
2019
First speeches
More first speeches were presented to Parliament. In this speech, members of parliament may talk about their background and the people they represent, and discuss issues—local, national or global—that they are concerned about.
19
September
2019
‘An Australian original’
The Parliament paid tribute to former Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Timothy Andrew Fischer AC.
18
September
2019
Inspection of live animal exports
The Parliament has passed a bill to establish an Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports to oversee the Department of Agriculture’s role in regulating exports.
17
September
2019
Protecting children from abuse
The Parliament has passed a bill that will put into effect a number of recommendations from the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child abuse.
12
September
2019
Trespassing on agricultural land
Electronically publishing or distributing material that intentionally and recklessly encourages a person to trespass on agricultural land will be an offence, under a bill passed by the Parliament.
9
September
2019
National Integrity Commission bill passes the Senate
The Senate has passed a private senator’s bill to establish a national integrity commission to investigate alleged corruption at a federal—national—level.
7
August
2019
Mother and daughter bow to tradition
The new Member for Lilley, Ms Anika Wells MP, took her daughter into the House of Representatives and was photographed bowing to the Speaker, with her daughter following her example.
7
August
2019
Examining national identity
The Senate has referred an inquiry relating to nationhood, national identity and democracy to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for investigation.
7
August
2019
Drought assistance approved by Parliament
Future funding for drought-resilience projects has been put in place, under bills passed by the Parliament.
7
August
2019
Social security bill returns for debate
The Social Services Legislation Amendment (Ending the Poverty Trap) Bill 2018 has been restored to the Notice Paper for debate in the Senate. The bill was originally introduced in September 2018.