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.
14
October
2019
Age of criminal responsibility
The age at which a child can be held responsible for criminal acts could be raised from 10 to 14 if a private member’s bill which has been introduced into the House of Representatives passes the Parliament.
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.