The House met, at 9 am, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker (the Honourable M. Dick) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read Prayers.

Appropriations and Administration—Standing Committee—Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Appropriations and Administration—Standing Committee—Report No. 32: Budget estimates 2025-26—Report, March 2025.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Messages from the Senate, 26 March 2025, were reported returning the following bills without amendments or requests:

No. 434— Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) 2025 .

No. 435— Supply (No. 1) 2025-2026 ( without requests ).

No. 436— Supply (No. 2) 2025-2026 .

No. 437— Supply (Parliamentary Departments) (No. 1) 2025-2026 .

No. 438— Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia’s Transport Sector) 2025 .

No. 439— AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) 2025 .

No. 440— Parliamentary Business Resources Legislation Amendment (Machinery of Government Change) 2025 .

No. 441— Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) 2024 .

No. 442— Free TAFE 2024 .

No. 443— National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Commitment to Public Ownership) 2024 .

No. 444— Treasury Laws Amendment (More Cost of Living Relief) 2025 .

No. 445— Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) 2025 .

Australian Electoral Commission—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 26 Narellan Street, Canberra—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Australian Electoral Commission—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 26 Narellan Street, Canberra.

Question—put and passed.

Australian Institute of Sport revitalisation project, Canberra—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Australian Institute of Sport revitalisation project, Canberra.

Question—put and passed.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Davis Station critical infrastructure works—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Davis Station critical infrastructure works.

Question—put and passed.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Southern Ocean research aquarium—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Southern Ocean research aquarium.

Question—put and passed.

Department of Defence—Facilities to support LAND 8113 Phase 1 Long Range Fires—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Department of Defence—Facilities to support LAND 8113 Phase 1 Long Range Fires.

Question—put and passed.

Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of existing leased premises at Caroline Chisholm Centre, 57 Athllon Drive, Greenway, ACT—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of existing leased premises at Caroline Chisholm Centre, 57 Athllon Drive, Greenway, Australian Capital Territory.

Question—put and passed.

Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 158-186 Walker Street, Townsville, QLD—APPROVAL OF WORK

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 158-186 Walker Street, Townsville, Queensland.

Question—put and passed.

Privileges and Members’ Interests Committee —REPORT

Mr R Mitchell (Chair) presented the following document:

Privileges and Members’ Interests Committee—Report concerning the registration and declaration of Members’ interests during 2024—Report, March 2025.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Petitions—Standing Committee —REPORT

Ms Templeman (Chair) presented the following document:

Petitions—Standing Committee—Report 38: Petitions and Ministerial responses—Report, 27 March 2025.

Documents

Ms Templeman , by leave, presented the following documents:

Petitions.

Ministers’ responses to petitions previously presented to the House.

Communications and the Arts—Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Templeman presented the following documents:

Communications and the Arts—Standing Committee—Am I ever gonna see you live again? Yes way! You bet! Oh yeah! (received by the Speaker on 6 March 2025, pursuant to standing order 247)—

Report, March 2025.

Minutes of proceedings.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Ms Templeman, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Mr Wallace (Deputy Chair) presented the following document:

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—Advisory report on the Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia’s Transport Sector) Bill 2024 (received by the Speaker on 7 March 2025, pursuant to standing order 247)—Report, March 2025.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Mr Wallace, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Industry, Science and Resources—Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr R Mitchell (Chair) presented the following documents:

Industry, Science and Resources—Standing Committee—Food for thought: The opportunities and challenges for Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry (received by the Speaker on 20 February 2025, pursuant to standing order 247)—

Report, February 2025.

Minutes of proceedings.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Mr R Mitchell and Ms Landry, by leave, made statements in connection with the report.

Health, Aged Care and Sport—Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Dr Freelander (Chair) presented the following documents:

Health, Aged Care and Sport—Standing Committee—Issues paper relating to the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia (received by the Speaker on 6 March 2025, pursuant to standing order 247)—

Report, incorporating a dissenting report, March 2025.

Corrigendum.

Minutes of proceedings.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Dr Freelander and Mr Leeser, by leave, made statements in connection with the report.

Treaties—Joint Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Chesters (Chair) presented the following document:

Treaties—Joint Standing Committee—Report 226: Australia-Portugal tax treaty—Report, March 2025.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Ms Chesters, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport—Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Mr Zappia presented the following documents:

Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport—Standing Committee—Interim report into local government sustainability (received by the Speaker on 14 February 2025, pursuant to standing order 247)—

Report, February 2025.

Minutes of proceedings.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

Mr Zappia, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned (Ms C King—Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

Women’s budget statement —MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Ms C King (Minister representing the Minister for Women), by leave, made a ministerial statement relating to the women’s budget statement.

Ms Ley addressed the House in reply.

Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned (Mr Giles—Minister for Skills and Training), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

Quality early childhood education and care —MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Dr Aly (Minister for Early Childhood Education), by leave, made a ministerial statement relating to quality early childhood education and care, and presented the following document:

Quality early childhood education and care—Statement by the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Anne Aly MP, 27 March 2025.

Ms Bell addressed the House in reply.

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION —REPORT

Ms J Ryan, by leave, presented the following document:

Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, 6 to 9 October 2023—Report, March 2025.

Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Debate resumed.

Ms Byrnes addressing the House—

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43, Ms Byrnes was granted leave to continue her speech when the debate is resumed, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

Death of former Senator (the Honourable Dr Rosemary Anne Crowley)—CONDOLENCE MOTION—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Speaker reported that the order of the day relating to the Prime Minister’s motion of condolence in connection with the Honourable Dr Rosemary Anne Crowley AO had been debated in the Federation Chamber and returned to the House, and presented a certified copy of the motion.

All Members present having risen, in silence—Motion agreed to.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice being asked—

Member directed to leave

At 2.34 pm the Member for Fadden ( Mr Caldwell ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for interjecting and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continued.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

Communications and the Arts—Standing Committee—Connecting the country: Mission critical: Inquiry into co-investment in multi-carrier regional mobile infrastructure—Government response, March 2025.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade—Joint Standing Committee—Inquiry into the Department of Defence annual report 2021-22—Government response, January 2025.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Regional Australia

The House was informed that Mr Hogan had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “This Government’s three years of cuts, delays and broken promises making life harder for regional Australia”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Mr Hogan addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

Economics—Standing Committee —REPORTS—STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS—MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF DOCUMENT—REFERENCE TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Dr Mulino (Chair) presented the following documents:

Economics—Standing Committee—

Review of Australia’s four major banks 2023-2024 (received by the Speaker on 20 February 2025, pursuant to standing order 247)—

Report, February 2025.

Minutes of proceedings.

Review of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission annual reports 2021, 2022 and 2023—

Report, March 2025.

Minutes of proceedings.

Review of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission annual reports 2021, 2022 and 2023—

Report, March 2025.

Minutes of proceedings.

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the reports were made Parliamentary Papers.

Dr Mulino and Mr Hamilton, by leave, made statements in connection with the reports.

Dr Mulino moved—That the House take note of the report Review of Australia’s four major banks 2023-2024.

In accordance with standing order 39, the debate was adjourned, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Dr Mulino moved—That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.

Question—put and passed.

Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Debate resumed.

Question—put and passed—bill read a second time.

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

On the motion of Ms Rowland (Minister for Communications), the bill was read a third time.

Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned (Mr J Wilson—Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

POSTPONEMENT OF BUSINESS

Ordered—That business intervening before order of the day No. 5, government business, be postponed until the next sitting.

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Suspension of sitting

At 5.47 pm, the Second Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of sitting

At 7.31 pm, the Speaker resumed the Chair.

Debate resumed.

Debate adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

At 8.09 pm, the Speaker adjourned the House until 10 am on Monday, 7 April 2025, in accordance with the resolution agreed to on 25 March 2025.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 27 March 2025 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Corporations Act 2001—

ASIC Corporations (Employee Incentive Schemes—Ongoing Relief) Instrument 2025/169 [F2025L00419].

ASIC Corporations (Repeal) Instrument 2025/170 [F2025L00420].

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999— Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (National Recovery Plan for the Wollemi Pine ( Wollemia nobilis )) Instrument 2025 [F2025L00429].

Industry Research and Development Act 1986— Industry Research and Development (Future Battery Industries Demonstrator Program) Instrument 2025 [F2025L00437].

Lands Acquisition Act 1989— Statement under section 125—March 2025.

Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012— Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation—national law) 2024—AMSA MO 2024/5 [F2024L01458]—Replacement explanatory statement.

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004— Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Amendment (Review Pathway) Regulations 2025 [F2025L00427].

National Health Act 1953— National Health (Paperless Prescribing, Dispensing and Claiming Trial) Special Arrangement 2025—PB 35 of 2025 [F2025L00428].

Navigation Act 2012— Marine Order 11 (Living and working conditions on vessels) 2024—AMSA MO 2024/3 [F2024L01455]—Replacement explanatory statement.

Social Security Act 1991— Social Security (AGDRP—Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred—Queensland) Determination (No. 4) 2025—LIN 25/044 [F2025L00418].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Gosling, Mr Katter, Mr O’Connor, Mr Rae and Dr Reid.

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

The Federation Chamber met at 9.30 am.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements were made.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms Belyea moved—That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

Question—put and passed.

At 10.30 am, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the Federation Chamber until 10.30 am on Monday, 7 April 2025.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber