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Votes & Proceedings/Wednesday, 8 October 2025
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1

The House met, at 9 am, pursuant to adjournment. The Deputy Speaker ( Ms Claydon ) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

2

Selection Committee

The Deputy Speaker (Ms Claydon), on behalf of the Speaker, presented the following document:

Report No. 3 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 27 October 2025.

3

Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2025 Measures No. 2) Bill 2025

Mr Burke (Minister for Home Affairs), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to migration and citizenship, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Burke presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Burke moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Thompson), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

4

Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill 2025

Dr Chalmers (Treasurer), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to repeal certain Acts and provisions of Acts and to make various amendments of the statute law of the Commonwealth, and for related purposes.

Document

Dr Chalmers presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Dr Chalmers moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Thompson), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

5

Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 , and for other purposes.

Document

Ms Rowland presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Ms Rowland moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Thompson), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

6

Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to establish the Commonwealth Parole Board, and for related purposes.

Document

Ms Rowland presented an explanatory memorandum to this bill and the Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025.

Bill read a first time.

Ms Rowland moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Thompson), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

7

Commonwealth Parole Board (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to deal with consequential and transitional matters arising from the enactment of the Commonwealth Parole Board Act 2025 , and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

Ms Rowland moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Thompson), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

8

Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025

Dr Mulino (Assistant Treasurer) presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Excise Tariff Act 1921 , and for related purposes.

Document

Dr Mulino presented an explanatory memorandum to this bill and the Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025.

Bill read a first time.

Dr Mulino moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Thompson), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

9

Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025

Dr Mulino (Assistant Treasurer) presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 , and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

Dr Mulino moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Thompson), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

10

Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence) Bill 2025

Mr Khalil (Assistant Minister for Defence), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Defence Act 1903 , and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Khalil presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Khalil moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Wallace), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

11

PUBLIC WORKS—PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE—REFERENCE OF WORK—ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT—PROPOSED FIT-OUT OF EXISTING LEASED PREMISES AT 3-5 NATIONAL CIRCUIT, BARTON, ACT

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Attorney-General’s Department—Proposed fit-out of existing leased premises at 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, Australian Capital Territory.

Question—put and passed.

12

SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS MOVED

Mrs McIntosh moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Lindsay moving the following motion immediately—That:

(1) a select committee, to be known as the House Select Committee on the Triple Zero Ecosystem, be appointed to inquire into and report on the health of the triple zero ecosystem;

(2) the committee consist of eight members: five Members to be nominated by the Government Whip, and three Members to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or by any crossbench Member;

(3) every nomination of a member be notified in writing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) the committee may proceed to the dispatch of business notwithstanding that not all members have been duly nominated and appointed and notwithstanding any vacancy;

(5) the members of the committee hold office as a select committee until presentation of the committee’s final report or until the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires by effluxion of time, whichever is the earlier;

(6) the committee present its final report no later than 8 December 2025;

(7) the committee elect a Government member as its chair;

(8) the committee elect a non-Government member as its deputy chair to act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee;

(9) at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee, the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting;

(10) in the event of an equally divided vote, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, have a casting vote;

(11) three members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee;

(12) the committee have power to appoint subcommittees, consisting of three or more of its members, and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine;

(13) the committee appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a casting vote only;

(14) two members of a subcommittee constitute the quorum of that subcommittee;

(15) members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum;

(16) the committee or any subcommittee have power to:

(a) call for witnesses to attend and for documents to be produced;

(b) conduct proceedings at any place it sees fit;

(c) sit in public or in private;

(d) report from time to time; and

(e) adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the House of Representatives; and

(17) the provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

Question—put.

13

DOCUMENTS—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Thwaites, by leave, presented the following documents:

National Anti-Corruption Commission—Parliamentary Joint Committee—

Examination of the National Anti-Corruption Commission annual report 2023-24 (report of the 47th Parliament)—Report, March 2025.

Examination of the Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission annual report 2023-24 (report of the 47th Parliament)—Report, March 2025.

The documents were made Parliamentary Papers.

Ms Thwaites, by leave, made a statement in connection with the documents.

14

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Triple Zero Custodian and Emergency Calling Powers) 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.

Closure

Mrs McIntosh moved—That the question be now put.

Question—That the question be now put—put.

A division having been called for and Mr Burke (Leader of the House) having indicated that the Government did not wish to proceed with the division—

Division, by leave, not proceeded with.

Question—put and passed.

And the question—That the bill be now read a second time—was accordingly put and passed—bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General

Message No. 20, 2 October 2025, from Her Excellency the Governor-General was announced recommending an appropriation for the purposes of the bill.

Consideration in detail

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

Mrs McIntosh, by leave, moved Opposition amendments (1) to (5) on sheet 1 together.

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put.

Dr Webster, by leave, moved Opposition amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 2 together.

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put.

Bill agreed to.

Consideration in detail concluded.

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

15

Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) 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— And on the amendment moved thereto by Mr Ted O’Brien, viz.— That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House notes that:

(1) the bill seeks to extend two successful Coalition policies;

(2) the Government’s policies have seen energy prices increase by $1,300 more than promised and it is now extending Coalition policy to ensure energy prices don’t increase even further;

(3) the Government has only reluctantly decided to support business by extending the instant asset write-off under pressure from the Coalition ahead of the last election;

(4) this bill seeks to provide less frequent assessments of ASIC and APRA;

(5) thousands of Australians have lost over $1 billion in superannuation due to alleged misconduct by First Guardian and Shield;

(6) ASIC has been accused of major failures in responding to this crisis which the Government has been silent about;

(7) the Government must explain to the thousands of victims why it is seeking to reduce accountability and transparency for ASIC at this time; and

(8) this bill seeks to clean up a range of the Government’s mistakes including the application of GST to disability services”—

Debate resumed.

Dr Scamps moved, as an amendment to the amendment proposed by Mr Ted O’Brien—That all words after “House” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“(1) notes that the bill continues the practice of legislating the instant asset write-off measure annually, which creates uncertainty and discourages investment at a time when many small businesses are already struggling; and

(2) calls on the Government to do more to support small businesses, including:

(a) making the instant asset write-off permanent; and

(b) adopting a $20,000 tax-free threshold for small business operators with annual turnover of less than $10 million, as proposed by the Member for Mackellar”.

Debate ensued.

Ms Steggall addressing the House—

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43, Ms Steggall 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.

16

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

17

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice were asked.

18

Auditor-General’s Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 3 of 2025-26—Performance audit—Implementation of procurement reforms: Digital Transformation Agency and Department of Finance: Digital Transformation Agency; Department of Finance.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

19

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

Australia’s Economic Accelerator Advisory Board—

*Report for 2024-25.

Research commercialisation strategy for 2025.

*Australian Securities and Investments Commission—Report for 2024-25.

*Grains Research and Development Corporation—Report for 2024-25.

Intelligence and Security—Parliamentary Joint Committee—Advisory report on the Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia’s Transport Sector) Bill 2024—Government response, October 2025.

*Reserve Bank of Australia—Report for 2024-25.

*The documents were made Parliamentary Papers.

20

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Triple Zero

The House was informed that both Ms Templeman and Mrs McIntosh had proposed definite matters of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion today. In accordance with standing order 46, the Speaker had given priority to the matter proposed by Mrs McIntosh, namely, “The Government’s tragic failure to ensure the oversight of the vital triple zero ecosystem”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Mrs McIntosh addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

21

Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Financial Systems and Other Measures) 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— And on the amendment moved by Dr Scamps to the amendment proposed by Mr Ted O’Brien (see item No. 15, page 209) —

Debate resumed.

Question—That the amendment moved by Dr Scamps to the amendment proposed by Mr Ted O’Brien be agreed to—put.

Question—That the amendment moved by Mr Ted O’Brien be agreed to—put.

Question—That the bill be now read a second time—put and passed—bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General

Message No. 21, 28 August 2025, from Her Excellency the Governor-General was announced recommending an appropriation for the purposes of the bill.

Consideration in detail

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

Ms Steggall moved amendment (2).

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—put.

Ms Steggall, by leave, moved amendments (1) and (3) together.

Amendments negatived.

Bill agreed to.

Consideration in detail concluded.

On the motion of Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

22

Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment 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 White (Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care), the bill was read a third time.

24

ADJOURNMENT

It being 7.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

The House continuing to sit until 8 pm—The Speaker adjourned the House until 9 am tomorrow.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 8 October 2025 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999— A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Amendment (Display of Trading Names) Regulations 2025 [F2025L01227].

Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011— Australian Renewable Energy Agency (General Funding Strategy) Approval 2025 [F2025L01231].

Corporations Act 2001— ASIC Corporations (Amendment) Instrument 2025/679 [F2025L01233].

Private Health Insurance Act 2007—

Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Policy) Rules 2025 [F2025L00896]—Replacement explanatory statement.

Private Health Insurance (Levy Administration) Rules 2025 [F2025L00898]—Replacement explanatory statement.

Taxation Administration Act 1953— Commissioner of Taxation—

Class Rulings—CR 2025/67, CR 2025/68, CR 2025/69.

Taxation Ruling—TR 2025/2.

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Ms Berry, Ms Coker, Mr Conaghan, *Ms Fernando, Ms France, Mr Hamilton, *Ms Payne and Mr Thistlethwaite.

* On leave

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Federation Chamber

2025

2025

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SUPPLEMENT TO VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

No. 17

FEDERATION CHAMBER

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Wednesday, 8 October 2025

( Order of business for this sitting—see item No. 4, Votes and Proceedings, 7 October 2025. )

1

The Federation Chamber met at 9.30 am.

2

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements being made—

Suspension of meeting

At 10.15 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 10.27 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Members’ constituency statements continued.

3

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026

The order of the day having been read for the further consideration in detail of the bill—

Schedule—

Proposed expenditures—

Treasury, $4,033,588,000—debated and agreed to.

Finance, $2,360,875,000—being debated—

Suspension of meeting

At 11.34 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 11.41 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Debate continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 11.45 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 11.57 am, the proceedings were resumed.

Debate continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 11.59 am, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 12.11 pm, the proceedings were resumed.

Expenditure agreed to.

Employment and Workplace Relations, $3,019,700,000—debated and agreed to.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, $648,017,000—debated and agreed to.

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Suspension of meeting

At 1.30 pm, the Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of meeting

At 4 pm, the Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.

Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, $2,715,409,000—debated and agreed to.

Attorney-General’s, $1,076,351,000—debated and agreed to.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, $3,382,101,000—being debated—

Suspension of meeting

At 5.25 pm, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 5.45 pm, the proceedings were resumed.

Debate continuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 5.50 pm, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 6.02 pm, the proceedings were resumed.

Debate continued.

Expenditure agreed to.

Industry, Science and Resources, $2,217,285,000—debated and agreed to.

Home Affairs, $4,965,464,000—debated and agreed to.

Debate adjourned (Mr Hill—Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

4

ADJOURNMENT

On the motion of Mr Hill (Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs), the Federation Chamber adjourned at 7.31 pm, until 9.30 am tomorrow.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber

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